Varicose veins of lower extremities, hemodynamics and treatment methods

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Phlebology

Background:

• Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a prevalent vascular disorder impacting roughly 50% of the adult population.
• Untreated CVI can progress to severe complications such as venous ulceration and deep vein thrombosis.
• Understanding the epidemiology and ethiopathogenesis, including hemodynamic and microcirculatory changes, is crucial for effective management.

Discussion:

• Traditional surgical interventions for varicose veins, while effective, have limitations and contraindications.
• Minimally invasive treatments, including thermal (radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, steam ablation) and nonthermal (sclerotherapy, echosclerotherapy, Clarivein, Sapheon) methods, are increasingly utilized.
• Each method's historical context, mechanism of action, indications, and limitations are reviewed.

Key Insights:

• Comparative studies and meta-analyses indicate a progressive shift towards minimally invasive treatment modalities.
• Minimally invasive techniques offer potential advantages in terms of patient recovery and reduced complications.
• Evidence supports the efficacy of various minimally invasive options for managing CVI.

Outlook:

• The trend favors minimally invasive approaches for chronic venous insufficiency treatment.
• Future developments are expected to refine existing minimally invasive techniques and introduce novel therapeutic strategies.
• Continued research will likely focus on long-term outcomes and comparative effectiveness of emerging CVI treatments.