Could my surgeon have performed surgery on the wrong vein, or has it reopened or do I now have a new insuff.? I am 44, active, slender, healthy, and lately my left calf has begun to swell toward the end of the day. It causes brief stabbing pain occasionally.
Re-opening of a vein treated with EVLT is very uncommon, but you could have insufficiency in another vein. The best way to determine this is with an ultrasound. Treatment options would depend upon the findings of the ultrasound.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You need a clinical evaluation and a color duplex ultrasound exam to answer your question. Failure of valves in other veins with new areas of venous insufficiency is likely. Venous thrombosis is another possibility. We develop venous insufficiency mostly due to our genetic makeup which affects the strength of the vein walls. The conservative measures including exercise, avoidance of obesity, avoidance of prolonged sitting or standing, periodic elevation of the legs, and routine daily use of support hose slow down the action of gravity upon our veins, but venous insufficiency is a chronic, progressive problem which requires re-evaluation from time to time.
Stephen F. Daugherty, MD, FACS, RVT, RPhS
Published on Jul 11, 2012
A new vein can open or the treated vein can rarely reopen as well. See your provider a repeat ultrasound to sort this out is probably in order.
Michael Ingegno MD
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You need a venous duplex to assess if you have a recurrence.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Many reasons can explain that now you have symptoms again.
I seriously doubt your doctor treated the "wrong" vein. However some patients can have a duplicate GSV that now is reponsible of the symptoms. It is possible that the GSV recanalized (re-opened). You couls certainly have other abnormal veins in the calf that need to be treated. This just to mention few.
You will need a new Doppler study and a re-evaluation.
Dr Farhy
Published on Jul 11, 2012
See a vein specialist in person. Can not tell from description.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There are many reasons for pain and swelling in the calf. I would recommend seeing your treating physician and repeating the venous ultrasound of your left leg to look for a possible cause of your problem.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You should have a re-evaluation and ultrasound. Have you been checked for a blood clot, ER?
Published on Jul 11, 2012
You probably have recurrent venous insufficiency. Visit your vein doctor
and you will need a new venous duplex ultrasound study. It is unlikely that
your Doctor treated the wrong vein, but sometimes veins can reopen or new
veins can become insufficient. Hope this helps.
Colin E. Bailey, MD, FACS
Published on Jul 11, 2012