Varicose veins are abnormally enlarged superficial veins usually seen in the thigh and leg. In the majority of cases, these large superficial veins are of a cosmetic nuisance. These veins connect with the deep veins of the leg and play a minor role in the transfer of blood to the heart. The veins become more prominent in the 3-4 decade of life and are more common in females.
In the majority of cases, the varicose veins worsen with time. The varicose veins start to become more prominent and swell. With time, the veins are engorged with blood and can cause localized pain and itching. Once the veins become prominent, it is very unlikely that they will spontaneously resolve without any treatment. The cause of varicose veins is unknown but is definitely linked to increase pressure in the veins.
There are valves in the veins which prevent the back flow of blood back into the legs. When these valves become damaged/defective, the blood flows backwards and causes swelling and engorgement of the veins. Aside from being unattractive, varicose veins may be responsible for leg aches, a feeling of heaviness or fatigue of the legs.
The majority of individuals will complain of leg ache at the end of the day. Symptoms are often worse after prolonged standing and may include feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping, and restlessness of the legs.
With time, darkening or hyperpigmentation around the ankles is a classic feature of prolonged varicose veins. Hemorrhoids are analogous to varicose veins and involve engorgement of veins in the rectum. Varicose veins do not cause joint pains or a decrease in blood supply to the legs. There are many options in the treatment of varicose veins. If the saphenous vein is very “thick and rope like”, stripping may be the best option. This is a surgical procedure and the most invasive. If only the valve in the vein is defective, the vein can be tied off in the groin and the few superficial veins can be removed by small incisions. This also requires surgery and moderate amount of anesthesia. It preserves the vein for future use.
The latest technology of varicose vein removal is using ultrasound with laser or radiofrequency ablation. In both techniques, the vein is burnt away. Both procedures are relatively painless and destroy the vein in the thigh. In the majority of cases, varicose veins are of a cosmetic nuisance. Varicose veins generally tend to get worse without any treatment. Those who do not get them treated are more likely to develop:
constant itching
pigmentation around the ankles
ulcers at the ankles
mild swelling of the feet
occasional blood clots in the veins
infection of the vein
| EuroMediCare Specialist Hospital and Outpatient Clinic |
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 EuroMediCare motto is: "Highest standard of medical services and mindful care of our patients". According to polish newspapers "Wprost" and "Rzeczpospolita" EuroMediCare is in the top 3 of polish private hospitals ratings. EuroMediCare Specialist Hospital and Outpatient Clinic was built in 2001 as the first private hospital in Wroclaw. The hospital’s modern architectural design, the cutting-edge equipment, implementation and enforcement of international standards (awarded ISO 9001-2000 certificate) as well as commitment of each and every member of our personnel to the work they perform everyday, allowed us to create a hospital, that ensures safety and comfort of treatment to all our patients. The quality of our work has been distinguished not only by the Polish Ministry of Health, which granted the General Surgery Unit the right to specialize in general surgery. We provide comprehensive and fully professional medical care to our patients, including the 24-hour doctor’s and nurse’s service. Post-operative patients are cared for in Intensive Care Units, where they recover and are constantly monitored by anaesthetists. In addition, the hospital offers emergency 24-hour surgical and orthopaedic services for a fee. For our patients we have single, double and triple rooms equipped with bathrooms, cable TV and access to the Internet.
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