Complications of Vein Surgery

A vein is a blood vessel that moves blood towards the heart. Sometimes valves in the veins stop functioning as they should or are damaged, causing an abnormal flow or pooling of blood. When the flow of blood to the heart is decreased and blood pools in the veins, a condition called venous insufficiency or vein disease develops. Often, vein surgery is used to treat vein disease.

• Spider veins in the legs often require surgery.

Vein Disease

• Spider veins and varicose veins are common types of vein disease that often require surgery. Spider veins, caused by insufficient blood flow and pooling in the legs, are small veins that resemble threads or webbing on the skin and are accompanied by swelling, throbbing in the legs and leg fatigue. A person with this condition may also experience burning in the affected area. Varicose veins are larger and look gnarled and ropey. The symptoms and causes of varicose veins are similar to those of spider veins, but the symptoms are typically worse. According to the Vascular Disease Foundation, at least 27 percent of adults in the United States have some type of vein disease.

Surgical Complications

• Potential vein surgery complications are like those people can expect with other types of surgery. Patients could have allergic reactions to anesthesia or develop breathing problems related to it. Depending on the procedure used, excessive bleeding, infection, bruising and scarring are risks as well. For vein stripping surgery, nerve injury is another potential complication. According to WomensHealth.gov, however, serious complications occur only rarely.

Vein Ligation and Stripping

• Vein ligation and stripping is a type of vein surgery. It involves tying off and/or removing damaged veins through an incision.Though complications aren't frequent, they can include scarring, nerve damage that causes numbness and damage to the vein system, causing a worsening of blood flow problems.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

• Ambulatory phlebectomy is a type of vein surgery that is considered less invasive than vein ligation. Surgeons create small cuts in the patient's skin and use special hooks to pull the veins out of the body. Scarring, bruising and temporary numbness are potential complications, but they are usually minor.

Other Treatments

• Sometimes, sclerotherapy or endovenous laser therapy are used as vein treatments. Endovenous laser treatment is an outpatient surgical procedure during which a very thin tube, called a catheter, is inserted into the affected vein and used to deliver laser energy, which seals the vein. Sclerotherapy is a form of cosmetic surgery that involves injecting special solutions into the veins to seal them. Complications may include itching and tenderness in the treated area. Some people may note tingling and tightness in the area as well.

Warning

• Vein surgery isn't for everyone. In some cases, it's wise to wait before opting for vein surgery in order to reduce the risk of complications. For example, according to Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center, it's best to delay vein surgery until at least 90 days after pregnancy. The same goes for those who've recently had other types of surgery.