Someone I know has the same problem with bi-lateral veins and was considering EVLT procedure. She went to see her family doctor and was told these procedures are not done anymore because if you have a heart problems later in life for whatever reason, the surgeon couldn't use the veins to get to the heart. Sounds far-fetched to me, but that is what her doctor said.
Closure procedure of the veins will not allow the veins to be used for a possible heart bypass later. However, there are other veins that can be used such as arm veins, and there are also arteries that can be used such as the internal mammary and radial. Also, stents are being used more and more.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Her doctor is wrong. You don't use veins to get to the heart. You use veins to bypass blocked arteries in the heart. That said, varicose veins would be useless to use and angioplasty with stents is far more common today to treat coronary artery disease.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
People with chronic venous insufficiency have abnormal and dysfunctional vein valves. EVLT is performed to help mitigate the symptoms. The abnormal vein is typically not an acceptable conduit for a bypass procedure.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Saphenous veins can be used for bypass surgery but the internal mammary arteries are more commonly used. Also, the saphenous veins would not be candidates if vein disease is present.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Doctors sometimes will warn a patient of that. There are other arteries in the body that can be used for a bypass, if and when necessary.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
If heart surgery or testing is to be performed through the groin, it is done through the arteries, not the veins. Any harvesting of veins for bypass surgery would not use malfunctioning veins, but use arteries (internal mammary, etc) due to longevity.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The saphenous vein is not used for access to the heart. Only a normal non-dilated saphenous vein (which yours shouldn't be) can be used for a heart bypass, if needed.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
I am a cardiovascular surgeon and now my entire practice is phlebology. We all have many veins in our legs and the veins that we treat are large, usually varicosed and are not ideal for bypass surgery. In addition, the internal mammary artery (we all have 2) is always used as well as the artery from our arms and other veins in our legs. If we leave these abnormal veins in our legs untreated, it can lead to more serious problems such as bleeding, blood clot, skin changes and ulcers.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Your "friend" is wrong. EVLT is done all the time. Also, heart surgeons rarely use veins for bypass grafting. They prefer to use the arteries behind the breast bone. If for some reason the heart surgeon needs to use the veins in the legs, and the veins are dilated, they can't be used anyway.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
That is just one of many misconceptions physicians have regarding vein treatments. The truth is that these veins that are dysfunctional in the leg, are not the type of vessels that you would want to use in a bypass surgery. They are typically dilated and no longer healthy. Good heart surgeons would not use them anyway. There are other vessels they would prefer. So the EVLT procedure is still done and is actually the preferred treatment option.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Only if you have active coronary artery disease or a family history of premature heart disease you should be concerned. Most heart bypasses can be performed by using the internal mammary or radial artery, also coronary stents are a good choice if needed. Severe venous insufficiency should be treated by venous ablations as indicated and remains the gold standard.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
This is not true.
Published on Jul 11, 2012