Ambulatory phlebectomy is a simple surgical varicose veins treatment. Varicose veins are enlarged veins which occur most often in the legs. This is due to the pressure that standing and walking can put on the lower body. These may be painful, but generally people simply do not like the appearance of them, which is why they choose to have them removed. With an ambulatory phlebectomy, the varicose veins are removed by making small incisions on the outside of the leg and then removing the vein through these small incisions. The incisions are so small they usually do not require stitches.
The Procedure
Your doctor will give you a local anesthetic in the area where the veins are located. Then he will mark the leg where the incisions will be made. These incisions are usually made on the upper thigh or the upper part of the calf. This will depend on where the vein is located. Then the doctor will take a hook and insert it into the small hole. He will the grab hold of the vein with the hook and begin to pull it out. The area will then be cleaned and an ACE bandage will be wrapped around the area where the vein was extracted. Then they will place your leg into a compression stocking. This stocking should be worn for at least two weeks to minimize the swelling and discomfort. These stockings also help with the circulation of blood. After the stocking is in place, you will be released to go home and finish recovering. Many patients do not need pain medication since it is such a small incision. If you do experience discomfort, over the counter pain medications may be used to relieve the pain.
Recovery
Once you have arrived at home you should keep the leg elevated for around 24 hours. During the first 24 hours you should try to avoid walking or putting excessive pressure on the leg. After 24 hours, you should be able to return to your normal everyday activities. You should be able to return to work. You will need to wear the compression stocking for around two weeks. You doctor will let you know if there are any activities which should be avoided and for how long.
Side Effects
The side effects of ambulatory phlebectomy are very minimal due to the fact it is a very simple procedure. You may experience some swelling or a small bruise at the area of the incision. These are generally mild. There is also the chance that you may experience some skin discoloration in this area. This is usually temporary and will fade in time.
If you suffer from varicose veins, talk to your doctor to see if an ambulatory phlebectomy is a good procedure for you. Most insurance companies will cover this procedure, and since it is done in the office it decreases the out of pocket cost dramatically.
