Varicose Veins Treatment (Sclerotherapy) Treatment Cost in India

This is a type of treatment where the healthcare providers administer medicine inside a lymph or blood vessel through an injection which causes it to shrink. This is commonly employed for the treatment of spider veins or varicose veins causing it to shrink.

This procedure by nature is non-surgical and requires nothing more than an injection. This can also prove to be very helpful in the treatment of blood and lymph vessel disorders which cause these vessels to form in an improper way.

An irritating solution named sclerosant is employed in sclerotherapy which can be injected directly into a lymph vessel or in a vein. The vessel gets irritated and causes it to swell. The vessel gets further irritated and causes it to swell a bit. The flow of blood gets cut off with the swelling and the lymph or the blood vessel shrinks.

This form of treatment has been around since the time of the 19th century and sclerotherapy itself has many types. But with time these techniques have undergone changes for the better and the last few decades especially saw some significant improvements.

The treatment of varicose vein conditions is primarily targeted by sclerotherapy. Varicose vein ailment is also known as chronic venous loss. This occurs at a time when veins are swollen and bulging and these are the veins in the legs. The problem comes primarily from thin venal walls that damage the valves of the veins subsequently. The blood pools in the veins which eventually causes them to enlarge and looks different.

The condition of varicose veins can be painful to an extent and can give rise to other problems of skin like rashes and redness. The effects of damage on the veins get reduced when sclerotherapy is used for shrinking the veins and as a result, the varicose veins become less visible and also not so apparent.

Some of the other conditions that can be addressed with sclerotherapy are as follows:

Malformed lymphatic vessels: Vessel carries lymph fluid or lymph and plays an important role in helping to prevent infection in immune systems from getting malformed.

Hemorrhoids: To treat hemorrhoids there are other treatments that are tried primarily but if they fail then sclerotherapy can be adopted. The blood vessels that surround the rectum gets irritated and swollen and makes bowel movements uncomfortable and causes terrible pain, that condition is called hemorrhoids.  First nonprescription drugs will be advised and some lifestyle changes which include introducing more fiber in the diet to bring about easy bowel movements. If these do not work well then one should consider sclerotherapy.

Hydroceles: A hydrocele is a form of swelling occurring in the scrotum when fluid pools in the thin sheath surrounding a testicle. A hydrocele is normal in newborns and usually disappears by the age of 1.

Not every candidate who suffers from the troubles of spider veins or any other kind of trouble can be treated with sclerotherapy. It is always advisable that the patient has a thorough understanding of their medical condition and discuss their symptoms with the doctor to be suggested with the best remedy to give the most optimum outcome. Other treatment options have been discussed below and they can also be more affordable and suitable.

Some of the symptoms that patients should observe to get sclerotherapy as the recommended treatment options are as below:

• The veins are causing too much pain
• The legs in question are always sore and feel heavy to lift or   move
• The skin on the legs or feet feels very dry and patchy
• The region near the veins are developing rashes

For the diagnosis of varicose veins, the doctor will first do a thorough physical examination which will include observing the legs when the person is standing for checking the swelling. The doctor can also ask the patient to describe the kind of pain he or she is feeling throughout the day.

An ultrasound test can also be recommended to see the operations of the valves in the veins and check for any blood clot formation in the vessels as well. A technician may employ a transducer that is identical to a small handheld tool about the size of a bar or a skin-facing soap over the area of the body being tested. The photos of the veins in question will be transmitted in a monitor that is attached to the transducer so that the doctor can view them and determine the condition.

After a consultation with the doctor for the assessment of the lymph vessels or the problematic vein, the procedure can be performed in the clinic of a dermatologist or can be done at the office of a vein specialist.

This procedure does not require the patient to be unconscious hence anesthesia is not used. No lotion or oil should be applied on the skin that will undergo the operation.

The patient is made to lie on their back with their legs placed up and a doctor cleans the regions and inserts a very small needle into the vein. The patient can experience a pinching sensation with the insertion of the needle.

Now with the irritating solution that was mentioned above, the doctor injects the vein and the individual may feel a tingling or burning sensation but nothing more than that. After the injection is completed, the doctor will massage the region to ensure the prevention of blood from re-entering the vessel. The patient will be advised to wear a compression stocking or wear a pad in the region of the leg.

A technician may employ a transducer that is identical to a small handheld tool about the size of a bar or a skin-facing soap over the area of the body being tested. The photos of the veins in question will be transmitted in a monitor that is attached to the transducer so that the doctor can view them and determine the condition.

To prevent the formation of blood clots the doctor will advise the patient to stay as active as possible. Also, dark spots can be formed in the region and to prevent that one must stay away from direct sunlight for some period.

The process of recovery is not very complicated except for one or two cases of side effects like tenderness and bruising at the site of the injection.

Varicose vein problems can be treated with many other alternatives and depending upon its severity the techniques can be adopted and recommended by the healthcare provider:

Foam sclerotherapy of large veins:  This technique is relatively new and if the vein in question is large, then a foam solution can be injected as a possible treatment for the closure of a vein and then seal it.

Laser surgeries: if the veins are smaller in size that has transformed into spider veins then laser treatments are being adopted by doctors for closing them off. Strong bursts of laser lights are sent to the veins in this kind of treatment which works by gradually making the veins disappear and fade away. In this kind of procedure incision or needles are not required.

Catheter assisted procedures making use of radiofrequency or laser light: Into an enlarged vein, the doctor inserts a thin tube or a catheter and gets the tip of the catheter heated with the help of laser energy or radiofrequency. After the catheter is pulled out the heat emitted destroys the vein totally by causing it to collapse and seals it shut. This kind of treatment is highly preferred for larger sized varicose veins.

High ligation and stripping of a vein: In this kind of procedure, the vein is tied off before it is made to join a deep vein and it removes the vein in question through the small incisions. This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis. The removal of the vein does not affect the circulation of blood in the leg since the deeper veins of the leg are capable of taking care of the circulation of large volumes of blood in the leg.

Ambulatory phlebectomy: In this kind of procedure the doctor removes the smaller varicose veins through tiny skin punctures made on the skin. Only the regions of the leg that are being pricked will be made numb and hence it can be performed on an outpatient basis. Scarring in this process will be minimum.

Endoscopic vein surgery: Only in advanced cases, such operation can be recommended where leg ulcers are forming, and other techniques are failing. A very thin video camera is inserted in the leg for the visualization of the varicose veins and then through smaller incisions, the veins are removed. This procedure can also be performed on an outpatient basis.

Veins that develop during the pregnancy can improve without any medical intervention and one should wait for at least a year to have them totally subsided.

The doctor’s team shall definitely ask the patient to use ace bandages or compression stockings for a period of at least 5 days continuously which can be opened only during the shower. For day time, medium compression support hose will be recommended for the first 1- or 2-weeks post-treatment. For certain days contact sports or aerobics and use of leg weights for 10 days shall be avoided. Walking for at least 30 minutes every day at a moderate pace is recommended for the prevention of blood clots and to stimulate better circulation. Saunas, hot tubs and warms baths should be avoided for 2 to3 days.

Besides these, the patient will also be advised on how to keep the incision site clean and if excessive chills of fever or swelling are detected at the site of the incision patient must call their doctor immediately to prevent any kind of mishap. Medicines for pain management are seldom administered but should nevertheless be recognized and told to the healthcare provider if the place in question hurts or becomes too agitated.