Faster Treatment May Prevent Return of Varicose Veins, Study Finds
Published on Monday in the Archives of Dermatology, a recent study shows that a certain vein treatment may be helpful in preventing the return of varicose veins following treatment. This is great news for anybody experiencing the bulging, discoloration, and pain associated with varicose veins.
The study showed that a minimally-invasive treatment called endovenous laser treatment, or EVLT for short, had a lower rate of recurrence than another procedure called high ligation and stripping (HLS), which has been used for decades to treat varicose veins. The latter procedure required an overnight stay in the hospital, while the former is a quick out-patient procedure.
According to the study, patients who had undergone HLS to get rid of varicose veins saw a return of the condition in 23% of the cases. Meanwhile, patients who had undergone EVLT to get rid of varicose veins saw the condition return in 16% of the cases. The data was collected over a two-year period and involved 400 initial patients.
EVLT is becoming more and more popular, and many specialists are not even using stripping and ligation procedures anymore, with most patients opted for the less-invasive treatment path. The findings are welcome news for vein specialists and patients with varicose veins, as it shows that the treatment really is just as effective as the traditional vein stripping and ligation procedures, if not more so.
The best treatment path is prevention, though, so those at higher risk of varicose veins—those with family history, sit or stand for prolonged periods, suffer from high blood pressure, are pregnant or are obese—should elevate their legs, turn to compression stockings, or just get more exercise to help reduce their risk.
