Vein stripping is surgery to remove varicose veins in the legs.
Alternative NamesVein stripping with ligation, avulsion, or ablation; Saphenous vein ligation
DescriptionVaricose veins are swollen, painful veins that have filled with blood. They usually develop in the legs.
Vein stripping for this problem is done to remove a large vein in the leg called the superficial saphenous vein.
Vein stripping takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Most people receive either:
Your surgeon will make two small surgical cuts in your leg.
If you have other damaged veins, your surgeon may also make small incisions over them to remove them or tie them off.
The doctor will close the incisions with sutures (stitches). You will have bandages and compression stockings on your leg after the procedure.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedVein stripping may be recommended for:
Today, doctors are doing fewer vein stripping surgeries because there are newer, non-surgical ways to treat varicose veins. These other treatments are less painful and have a much faster recovery time.
See also: Varicose Vein - noninvasive treatment
RisksVein stripping is generally safe. Ask your doctor about specific problems that might occur.
The risks for any anesthesia include:
The risks for any surgery include:
The risks for vein stripping include:
Always tell your doctor or nurse:
During the days before your surgery:
On the day of your surgery:
Your legs will be wrapped with bandages to control swelling and bleeding for 3 - 5 days after surgery. You may need to keep them wrapped for several weeks.
When you are resting, try to keep your legs raised higher than the level of your heart. Place pillows or blankets under your legs to raise them up.
You may also wear compression stockings. These help improve blood flow. It is very important to keep your bandages and compression stockings on until all the surgical cuts have healed. Your doctor will tell you when you no longer need them. To prevent the varicose veins from returning, you may have to wear compression stockings for a long time.
Your doctor may prescribe pain medicine. Take the medication before your pain gets severe. Do NOT drive or use machinery if you are taking narcotic pain medicine. The medicine will make you drowsy, and it will not be safe for you to drive or operate machines.
Take at least 10 to 12 short walks a day, for 5 to 10 minutes each. Do not sit or stand in one place for too long.
You will probably be able to return to your normal routine in 2 weeks. However, you should not do strenuous physical activity for 3 to 6 weeks. You should be able to shower 2 days after surgery.
Outlook (Prognosis)Surgical vein stripping is usually very successful. It reduces pain and improves the appearance of your leg. Rarely, vein stripping causes scars.
ReferencesFreischlag JA, Heller JA. Venous disease. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 68.
Nijsten T, van den Bos RR, Goldman MP, et al. Minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of saphenous varicose veins. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;60(1):110-119.
Vein ligation and stripping is a surgical approach to the treatment of varicose veins.
The purpose of vein ligation and stripping is to reduce the number and size of varicose veins that cannot be treated or closed by other measures.
Varicose vein stripping is a surgical procedure used to remove varicose veins from the legs. It involves making incisions in the skin, tying off the affected veins, and then removing them through the incisions. This procedure is typically reserved for severe cases of varicose veins that do not respond to other treatment options.
A flexible wire is inserted through one end and extended to the other. The wire is then withdrawn, pulling the vein out with it. This is called "stripping" and is the most common method to remove superficial varicose veins.
Can you get a varicose vein on your brain
Varicose means pertaining to a dilated vein. The vein itself might be called a varicosity or a varicose vein.
The hemorroidal vein.
There are various treatments available for varicose veins. Multiple options include Sclerotherapy,Laser Surgery,Endovenous Techniques ,Surgical Ligation and Stripping and Ambulatory Phlebectomy. According to Web MD the most common type of varicose vein treatment is the Sclerotherapy procedure.
One can easily tell if they have a varicose vein by looking at their legs. If there are visible, dark, lumpy veins whilst standing up for a while, you have varicose veins.
A varicose vein is a distended vein where the valves are unable to close properly. This can lead to thromboses, which are blood clots and can make the veins hard, bumpy, and painful.
Varicose vein laser surgery involves a laser, that is very accurate and direct, that sends very strong bursts of light onto the varicose vein. This light makes makes the vein slowly fade and disappear.
Laser therapy is one means of treating varicose veins. The laser works to destroy and damage the vein. The laser closes the vein preventing it from spreading further.