Varicose veins are a condition that affects the veins in the legs. The condition is caused by a build-up of pressure in the veins, which causes them to become enlarged and twisted. Varicose veins can be painful and can cause swelling in the legs. In some cases, they can also lead to ulcers.
Varicose vein stripping aids in treating varicose veins and also restricts them from appearing back. Stripping and ligation are performed when blood pooling happens secondary to venous incompetence or when the patient is suffering from venous insufficiency symptoms. The physician may also recommend this procedure if you are experiencing:
- Blood clots
- Ulcers and skin sores
- Bleeding
- Tenderness, throbbing, and constant pain in the legs
If you are also thinking about improving the appearance of the legs, surgical stripping of the veins is recommended. The physician will evaluate each patient and plan treatment as per the patient’s conditions.
The patient will be given regional anaesthesia and a sedative or may be provided general anaesthesia. Next, the surgeon will do two to three small incisions in the legs. He may make the cuts at the bottom, middle, or top of the damaged veins. He would make an incision in the groin and other incisions far from the leg that is in the ankle or calf. He will then insert a flexible, thin plastic wire through the vein or into the groin and assist along the vein till the other cut. He may tie the wire to the vein, and pull it out over the lower cut, thus pulling the vein along with it. If the patient has damaged veins close to the surface, incisions will be made to tie them or remove them. It is referred to as ambulatory phlebectomy. Then, the incisions are closed with stitches. The wound is closed securely with compression stockings or bandages after the procedure.
The entire procedure may take around 1 hour to 2 hours. The physician may provide you with medication that aids you to relax. The procedure is performed in an outpatient procedure allowing the patient to return home after a few hours of the surgery.