What Do We Know About Varicose Vein Disease?

What Do We Know About Varicose Veins? Varicose veins are a venous disorder particularly common in women. As with all diseases, there is much misinformation circulating about this condition. Assoc. Prof. Cem Arıtürk, Cardiovascular Surgery Specialist at Liv Hospital, answered confusing questions such as: Is varicose vein disease only an aesthetic problem or a serious condition posing vital risk, and is surgery the only solution for varicose vein treatment?

1 - Varicose veins are merely an aesthetic problem

False. Varicose veins are a disease of the veins that transport blood from tissues to the heart in the body. Vessel deformations resulting from venous insufficiency developing in these veins can be defined as varicose veins. Characterized by flow disturbances in the leg and lower abdomen veins most affected by gravity, and the resulting permanent structural and shape abnormalities (dilation, tortuosity, fragility, etc.), varicose veins can cause very serious consequences if venous insufficiency is left unattended and untreated.

2 - Blood clots formed in varicose veins can be fatal

Circulation in varicose veins has a compromised character compared to healthy veins, and this increases the risk of clot development in varicose vessels. However, the likelihood of a clot formed in varicose veins traveling to the lungs and threatening life is quite low. Clots that do reach the lungs and can be fatal most often originate from the main deep veins in the legs that have insufficiency. When clots develop in these vessels—which are not visible to the naked eye and are located between muscles—the risk of traveling to the lungs is quite high.  

3 - Surgery is the only permanent solution for varicose vein treatment

Over the past 20 years, varicose vein treatment has benefited from methods that technology has brought to the medical field. Listing them in chronological order, it is possible to treat varicose veins without surgery using laser, radiofrequency, and adhesive methods. However, which treatment method should be applied depends on both the extent of the disease and the patient's characteristics. Depending on the patient's and disease's condition and extent, surgery may be necessary.

4 - Leech therapy and varicose vein creams are beneficial in varicose vein treatment

Alternative and complementary methods in varicose vein treatment can be used as adjuncts to medical therapies. Creams containing horse chestnut extract can reduce symptoms such as pain and swelling caused by varicose veins but do not contribute to treating the disease. With leech therapy, only the blood inside the vessel is absorbed. This treatment not only provides no benefit to the disease but also creates an infection risk.

5 - Vessels treated in varicose vein therapy are the vessels that will be used for bypass procedures. In varicose vein treatment, vessels that would be used in advanced bypass surgeries are lost

Vessels treated in varicose vein therapy are vessels in which insufficiency has developed, which have dilated, and whose structure is compromised. Using these vessels during bypass is already incorrect and should not be done. However, the portion of treated vessels below the knee, vessels inside the chest, and arm arteries are other vessels that can be used during bypass. If you have insufficiency in problematic, varicose vessels, avoiding treatment is not correct, and other vessels are available for bypass.

6 - Foam sclerotherapy is sufficient for varicose vein treatment

Sclerotherapy, known among the public as foam therapy, is a treatment method used for aesthetic purposes in varicose veins. Foam therapy applied to vessels visible on the skin surface and causing aesthetic concern has no medical function. In veins with developed insufficiency, one of the medical treatment methods is used: medication and compression stockings, laser-radiofrequency-adhesive methods, treatment, or surgery.