[The treatment of varicose veins]

In the treatment of varicose veins and their complications most European phlebologists use today, unlike the past, surgery, sclerotherapy and compression without any preconceived preference, guided solely by the indications of choice of each method. Within this framework, it is generally admitted that surgery is by far the best treatment for incompetent saphenous terminations, main saphenous trunks and insufficient bulky perforating veins. Sclerotherapy, on the other hand, is given the task of eliminating the varicose tributaries of the removed saphenous conduits, as well for treating reticular non-saphenous varices, dermal varicosities and recurrent varicose veins after correct operations. As far compression treatment, it requires today respect for "posology" that is expressed in terms of mmHg of pressures to be exerted at different levels of the extremity; depending on venous and skin changes, semi-stiff sticky bandages or various types of elastic stockings will be chosen. Often two or more of the methods listed are used during the same treatment or in successive stages.