Vein stripping

The principle of this conventional treatment of varicose veins is the removal of the sickened vein, the pulling or stripping.

Usually the procedure is performed with a general anaesthesia.

In detail the sickened vein will be dissected over an access in the groin or in the hollow of the knee. Then it will be cut through between ligatures and pulled out of the leg at a probe that means the varicose vein is removed in the part where it diseased. The healthy part remains in the leg and can be, if necessary, used as a replacement for example as a bypass of the coronary vessels later.

For this surgery you will spend usually about one hour in the operating room and then 3-4 more hours in our doctor´s office. After that you can walk home.

A tight compression bandage that we have applied to you in the operating room will make normal walking and moving difficult but will be already removed after three days and will be substituted by elastic stockings that you will prescribed for the span of time of 4-6 weeks after the surgery.  

Accompanying varicose veins:

It is understood that you can only pass relatively straight veins with a wire, whereas strongly bended or very thin knots can not be passed. But to get the best cosmetical result possible anyway the knots are removed at the same time micro surgical, also without any cuts. This works with small circular accesses of the sizes of about 1,5 mm diameter that heal normally without any scars.

Ironically the most troubles occur because of this more conventional part of the procedure, e.g. bruises or passagere nerve irritation.

Principally there are statistical risks about the surgery with the high frequency catheter (just like in every other surgery) that can not be avoided totally even with the most possible carefulness of the surgery team:

• It can bleed. In the area where the surgery takes place, in the groin as well as in the hollow of the knee are big arteries and veins directly next to each other. Injuries of these big structures could have potentially severe consequences for the leg.
• The development of a vein thrombosis. There is as a rule always a risk for that when a vein is manipulated. We will heparinize you before the surgery (Heparin injection) to prevent the development of a thrombus. After the surgery we will bundle you out of the bed as soon as possible because exercise prevents thrombosis.

Damage of nerve feeling: This risk exists for the conventional stripping as well as for the minimal invasive procedure usually at the lower leg. This why the varicose vein is usually only pulled out to a spot beneath the knee joint. Knots further beneath are removed mechanically over micro accesses. As long as a nerve did not get completely cut through accidentally possible dysfunctions of the feeling go down within a couple weeks (up to 12 months).

• Infections: generally infections can complicate any surgical procedure. The groin region is in this respect more vulnerable because of the many hair roots. But most important is the length of the procedure. The length determined by the degree of experience and authority of the surgeon.