Varices, varicose venes/venous diseases

The reasons for the disease are a constitutional, inherited weakness of the connective tissue. The venous walls get impaired as well as the venous valves which cause a venous return in the superficial and profound leg veins. By this a flow stasis (congestion) is caused which itself causes swellings and a feeling of tension in the legs. This diseases is furthered especially by long-standing (eg. in the job), physical inactivity, overweight or pregnancy.
As a result muscle cramps at nights, cutaneous alterations, venous inflammations (varicoplebitis) up to painful ulcers at the lower leg (open leg ulcers).

Active cooperation of the patients by avoiding physical inactivity!!
Physiotherapy, water gymnastics -> exercising in cold water
Compression treatment at an early stage, use of compression stockings and support stockings

Heavy, tired, swollen legs – a first warning symptom
Apparent widened leg veins eg. from so-called spider veins up to side branch or branch varicosities

Anamnesis – Interviewing the patient, asking him for any family history of the disease
Examination of both legs when standing tall and without clothing
Ultrasound examination (duplex sonography)

Conservative: Physical activity, physiotherapy, compression stockings
Sclerotherapy: Atrophy varices by means of injecting a medication
Radio frequency therapy: By inserting a radio frequency sonde into the vein the vein gets adhered during retraction procedure by means of the heated top of the sonde (vein gets coagulated).
Operative treatment: Depending on the type and extension of the varices different procedures can be applied:
Removal of the side branch by means of a small cuts without stitching them (minimal-invasive procedure)
“Stripping”: This means complete removal of a superficial main vein.