Where does the blood go after the saphenous vein has been ablated?

How is blood drawn upwards if there is no superficial (saphenous) vein that would do that? What does this change mean to the body? Is all the blood transferred by the deep vein or the new collateral veins that replace the former vein?

Answers from doctors (14)


Americas Vein Centers - Southborough

Published on Apr 30, 2013

Collateral veins that have replaced the diseased vein.

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Answered by Americas Vein Centers - Southborough

Collateral veins that have replaced the diseased vein.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on Apr 15, 2013

You have miles of vein structure in each leg that allows your leg to circulate properly with or without your saphenous vein. The reality is that your saphenous veins make up less than 1 percent of the total vein structure in each leg. In those individuals who have saphenous vein disease and have their vein treated, eliminating a problematic vein can improve the leg's overall circulation pattern by helping to decrease the venous hypertension that is commonplace in the setting of vein disease. Your body is very adaptable and knows when and how to find new collateral routes anytime a vein is closed or damaged. Mother nature is amazing.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

You have miles of vein structure in each leg that allows your leg to circulate properly with or without your saphenous vein. The reality is that your saphenous veins make up less than 1 percent of the total vein structure in each leg. In those individuals who have saphenous vein disease and have their vein treated, eliminating a problematic vein can improve the leg's overall circulation pattern by helping to decrease the venous hypertension that is commonplace in the setting of vein disease. Your body is very adaptable and knows when and how to find new collateral routes anytime a vein is closed or damaged. Mother nature is amazing.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Center for Vein Care and Surgery

Published on Apr 10, 2013

Venous blood is routed to the deep healthy veins. In most cases, these deep veins are functioning well. It is important on the initial ultrasound mapping to assure that the deep veins are healthy before treating the saphenous veins and that they do not have active blood clot or obstruction. Healthy deep veins have adequate negative pressure to "draw" the blood upward unlike the diseased superficial veins. Remember that blood travels to the leg via arteries, feeds the tissues and then goes back to the heart via the veins. If the superficial veins are diseased, blood cannot return to the heart fast enough, which can cause symptoms of heaviness, fatigue, swelling and painful varicose veins. If these diseased veins are eliminated from the system by ablation, the tissues deliver their waste products (CO2 and Lactic Acid) to the healthy deep veins and circulation overall will improve. Improved circulation is a benefit to the body!

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Answered by Center for Vein Care and Surgery

Venous blood is routed to the deep healthy veins. In most cases, these deep veins are functioning well. It is important on the initial ultrasound mapping to assure that the deep veins are healthy before treating the saphenous veins and that they do not have active blood clot or obstruction. Healthy deep veins have adequate negative pressure to "draw" the blood upward unlike the diseased superficial veins. Remember that blood travels to the leg via arteries, feeds the tissues and then goes back to the heart via the veins. If the superficial veins are diseased, blood cannot return to the heart fast enough, which can cause symptoms of heaviness, fatigue, swelling and painful varicose veins. If these diseased veins are eliminated from the system by ablation, the tissues deliver their waste products (CO2 and Lactic Acid) to the healthy deep veins and circulation overall will improve. Improved circulation is a benefit to the body!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Center of Orange County

Published on Mar 12, 2013

The saphenous vein is one unimportant superficial vein in a network of multiple veins, and it is therefore dispensable. The blood finds its way back to the deep system via a variety of alternative pathways.

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Answered by Vein Center of Orange County

The saphenous vein is one unimportant superficial vein in a network of multiple veins, and it is therefore dispensable. The blood finds its way back to the deep system via a variety of alternative pathways.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Mar 05, 2013

Great question, and one that is frequently asked. The femoral and popliteal veins are the largest and deepest veins in the legs. There are veins which "bridge" between these and the saphenous veins. Usually, the long and short saphenous aren't sealed from top to bottom so the blood is redirected to the deep veins in the lower saphenous system, as well as other collateral veins. Typically, there is a more efficient return of blood upwards as the damaged vein is no longer able to "pool" blood due to damaged valves.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Great question, and one that is frequently asked. The femoral and popliteal veins are the largest and deepest veins in the legs. There are veins which "bridge" between these and the saphenous veins. Usually, the long and short saphenous aren't sealed from top to bottom so the blood is redirected to the deep veins in the lower saphenous system, as well as other collateral veins. Typically, there is a more efficient return of blood upwards as the damaged vein is no longer able to "pool" blood due to damaged valves.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

You kind of answered your own question. The blood returns through other veins. There is no change to the body.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

You kind of answered your own question. The blood returns through other veins. There is no change to the body.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein 911

Published on Mar 04, 2013

Ninety-five percent of blood in the leg is drawn upwards by the deep vein system, not the superficial (great and small saphenous veins) system, so it is no problem to get rid of abnormal superficial veins. When we treat an abnormal saphenous vein by closing it, the normally functioning veins and deep veins take over.

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Answered by Vein 911

Ninety-five percent of blood in the leg is drawn upwards by the deep vein system, not the superficial (great and small saphenous veins) system, so it is no problem to get rid of abnormal superficial veins. When we treat an abnormal saphenous vein by closing it, the normally functioning veins and deep veins take over.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Mar 04, 2013

Following an EVLA procedure on the saphenous vein, blood is redirected to the normal veins that exist in the deep system.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

Following an EVLA procedure on the saphenous vein, blood is redirected to the normal veins that exist in the deep system.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Published on Mar 04, 2013

Once the saphenous vein has been ablated, all of the blood is transferred by the deep veins.

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Answered by Cosmetic Vein Centers of Texas

Once the saphenous vein has been ablated, all of the blood is transferred by the deep veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Laser Vein Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

Great question! The collateral superficial veins circulate the superficial blood to the deep veins, which circulate out of the leg. In a refluxing saphenous vein, the blood flows backwards toward the feet and then circulates up in the deep veins. After the saphenous vein is closed no blood circulates in it, but blood still circulates in the collateral veins (just a little more efficiently).

Answered by Laser Vein Center (View Profile)

Great question! The collateral superficial veins circulate the superficial blood to the deep veins, which circulate out of the leg. In a refluxing saphenous vein, the blood flows backwards toward the feet and then circulates up in the deep veins. After the saphenous vein is closed no blood circulates in it, but blood still circulates in the collateral veins (just a little more efficiently).

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

If the closed vein was a "bad" vein, then it was mostly leaking blood back down the leg in the wrong direction. Blood will continue to go up the leg in the deep system after the procedure.

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Answered by Bella MD Laser Vein and Aesthetic Center

If the closed vein was a "bad" vein, then it was mostly leaking blood back down the leg in the wrong direction. Blood will continue to go up the leg in the deep system after the procedure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Intermountain Vein Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

The deep veins in the body are responsible for 80-90% of the blood return flow, so in reality the saphenous veins are not critical to blood flow. It is possible that new collateral veins are created, but the deep veins do just fine without the saphenous veins present, especially when there is reflux present in the saphenous veins.

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Answered by Intermountain Vein Center

The deep veins in the body are responsible for 80-90% of the blood return flow, so in reality the saphenous veins are not critical to blood flow. It is possible that new collateral veins are created, but the deep veins do just fine without the saphenous veins present, especially when there is reflux present in the saphenous veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

This is a very frequently asked question. Blood normally flows from the superficial saphenous system into the deep system, and then from the deep system to the heart. Blood also flows from the superficial saphenous system back to the heart. When the superficial system is treated by ablation, the muscle contractions of the leg force the blood from the superficial system into the deep system and then back to the heart. There are plenty of veins to take the blood back to the heart when the saphenous system is ablated.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

This is a very frequently asked question. Blood normally flows from the superficial saphenous system into the deep system, and then from the deep system to the heart. Blood also flows from the superficial saphenous system back to the heart. When the superficial system is treated by ablation, the muscle contractions of the leg force the blood from the superficial system into the deep system and then back to the heart. There are plenty of veins to take the blood back to the heart when the saphenous system is ablated.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Mar 04, 2013

The blood gets "redirected" to the deep veins. The actual blood flow in the leg improves since the blood will circulate faster and does not stagnate within the abnormal vein, nor goes "backwards" due to the reflux.

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

The blood gets "redirected" to the deep veins. The actual blood flow in the leg improves since the blood will circulate faster and does not stagnate within the abnormal vein, nor goes "backwards" due to the reflux.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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