The Vein Doctor

National Guidance on the Treatment of Varicose Veins

In 2013, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence – NICE- published clinical guideline CG168 and stated that patients with varicose veins should be referred to a vascular service – a team of healthcare professionals who have the skills to undertake a full clinical and duplex ultrasound assessment and who can provide the full range of treatment options.

NICE recommends:

• Endothermal ablation should be the first option
• Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy the second option
• Surgery is now the last resort.

During endothermal ablation, the veins affected by … Continue reading »

Although surface varicose veins are pretty obvious, the cause of varicose veins is deeper under the skin. It is a problem called superficial venous reflux.

That is a defect in the one-way valves that keep blood flowing in the correct direction. Venous valves are delicate folds in the lining of the vein that open and close keeping blood flowing in the correct direction. In the legs, healthy vein valves direct blood from the foot upwards back towards the heart. When the one-way valves in the veins do not work properly, gravity can pull the blood downwards … Continue reading »

In this post, I will cover the major complications of varicose veins.

The medical complications are

• • Phlebitis
  • Varicose Eczema
  • Leg Ulcers
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis. .

Phlebitis should really be called Superficial Vein Thrombophlebitis. In this condition, thrombus or clot formation is the main concern and threat. In Superficial Vein Thrombophlebitis there is thrombus – or clot – in the superficial vein, and inflammation in the tissue surrounding the vein. Often, a tubular-shaped lump can be felt which is red, tender and painful. The most frequently affected vein is the saphenous vein on the inner … Continue reading »

Experts agree that Microsclerotherapy is the best treatment for thread veins and spider veins on the legs. In this video, Catharine McGuinness, a vascular specialist at the VeinCare Centre demonstrates the treatment.

Microsclerotherapy is a medical treatment that involves injecting a prescription medicine called a sclerosant directly into the spider veins. Don’t worry, it’s not painful: an ultra-fine needle is used, only slightly bigger than a human hair, which you can barely feel. The technique requires good illumination and magnification.

The sclerosant works by removing the lining of the vein almost instantly (this is also not … Continue reading »