Vein ablations is recommended if the patient suffers from severe pain or inflammation. Usually, people suffering from such pain are due to vicarious veins. Vein ablation is a process in which varicose veins are treated by burning the wounds. The process does not take long, but patients might need to avoid daily heavy activities.
Due to any disease or injury, a vein can carry the blood instead of pooling inside. In this condition, vein ablation is being done to burn the nonfunctional vein. The procedure is used to get rid of pooled blood, and eventually, it helps with the symptoms like severe pain, inflammation, ache, etc.
Your medical history, including recent illnesses, medical conditions, and allergies, should be disclosed to your doctor. List all of your prescriptions, including aspirin and herbal supplements. The doctor may order you to stop taking aspirin, NSAIDs, or blood thinners to prepare you for treatment. Don’t wear jewelry, and dress comfortably in loose-fitting clothing. You might have to dress in a gown. After the session, try to have a safe ride.
What is the procedure for vein ablation?
Before being wrapped in the surgical drape, carefully clean the defective region.
The second step is to numb the area to make the patient less pain. Because a catheter is placed into the affected vein during this treatment, an incision is necessary.
Endovenous ablation employs energy to burn and seal off damaged veins, specifically lasers. Doctors use it to treat symptoms like pain, edema, and irritation. Ablation is risk-free, less intrusive than surgery, and almost scarless. The tube is utilized for draining the pooled blood. Additionally, an ultrasound sensor will be inserted into the problematic vein and tube to monitor the procedure and assess the vein’s health.
A little section is opened to make a way to enter the catheter. After clearing the blood flow obstruction with the catheter, it is withdrawn. After this procedure, the wound of the incision is wrapped to avoid blood loss instead of applying stitches. It is recommended that the patient may not carry heavy weight, stand for an extended period, or perform any heavy activities for a few days after the treatment. It is because the stitches can cause damage to the vein.
Symptoms for ablation
Following are symptoms on which doctor may recommend vein ablation:
- Severe pain
- Inflammation
- Discoloration
- Sours
- Irritation
How to prepare for the procedure?
It is a straightforward procedure. Following are the steps.
- First, you need to calm down your nerves because the procedure did not involve any risky steps, so there is no need to fret.
- Secondly, you need to explain your condition to the doctor briefly. If you have any other disease and are taking its medication, inform your doctor. The doctor will determine whether this medication affects the procedure or not.
- Also, tell your doctor about any allergies; for example, if you’re allergic to antibiotics, inform your doctor about it before the procedure.
- Other than that, make sure you come to the hospital with someone because you might not be able to drive home after the procedure. And having your loved ones by your side during difficult times helps the person to stay calm.
- Make sure you’re not wearing any heavy jewelry.
- Wearing loose clothes will keep you comfortable after the procedure.
- Ask as many questions as you want to your doctor before the procedure because it will help you understand your condition better.
- Follow all the doctor’s advice to take preventative measures before the procedure.
Potential benefits of the procedure?
No surgical incision is required, so opening a person to treat a small vein is no longer essential. This treatment has a little skin incision that does not require extensive stitching. Ablation is more successful, has fewer complications, and is associated with significantly less discomfort during recovery than conventional vein stripping procedures.
Ablation is typically risk-free and trouble-free. Due to the need for small skin openings during catheter installation rather than extensive incisions, this surgery leaves no scars. The procedure is less intrusive than traditional surgery. Twelve months following the treatment, most treated veins are practically undetectable, even with ultrasonography. Most patients have symptom relief and can resume their daily activities.
What are the potential risks of Vein ablation?
The whole procedure is 100% risk-free, especially when an incision is involved, even if it is small. The risk of infection is always there, but infection doesn’t usually happen because of the doctor’s extensive care. Secondly, sometimes, the vein swells for a few days, which can cause pain or discoloration. It usually happens when the patient is allergic to antibiotics and these are being used in the procedure. Thirdly, if the clot is not treated well in this vein, it can move to any other organ, causing damage.
Moreover, the procedure can damage nerves or blood vessels and cause serious bruising. After the process, some patients cannot perform heavy activities due to pain and tenderness in the leg for days. The patient may feel tired and weak for a couple of days after the procedure, but it will go away independently.
In some cases, pain doesn’t go away in a week or two. You may need to consult the doctor. The doctor will examine the wound thoroughly and will advise accordingly. Wounding and redness are typical after any surgical procedure, so you don’t need to worry. Stay in touch with the doctor for any further complications in the future.
References
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16965-venous-disease-endovenous-thermal-ablation
- https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abk7082
- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/varicoseabl?google=amp
- https://advancedheartandvein.com/vein/vein-ablation/
