Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
The purpose of vein ligation and stripping is to reduce the number and size of varicose veins that cannot be treated or closed by other measures. The reasons for vascular surgery in general include:
- Improvement of the appearance of...
the legs. Large varicose veins are considered disfiguring by many people. - Relief from pain, leg cramps, and fatigue that may be associated with varicose veins.
- Treatment of skin problems that may develop as complications of varicose veins. These include chronic eczema, skin ulceration, external bleeding, and abnormal pigmentation of the skin.
- Prevention of such disorders as thrombophlebitis and pulmonary blood clots.
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Other Information
Vein ligation and stripping is a minor surgery. It is used to remove a damaged vein and prevent complications of vein damage. If several valves in a vein and the vein itself are heavily damaged, the vein (or the diseased part of the vein) is removed (stripped). An incision is made below the vein, a flexible instrument is threaded up the vein to the first incision, and the vein is grasped and removed.
During this surgery, one or more incisions are made over the damaged veins, and the vein is tied off (ligated). If the ligation cuts off a faulty valve and the vein and valves below the faulty valve are healthy, the vein may be left in place to continue circulating blood through other veins that still have valves that work well.
From http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/vein-ligation-and-stripping
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