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Varicose vein venaseal ablation and microphlebectomy
I am new to this platform and searched for a varicose vein group, but it brought me here. I am scheduled for a venaseal ablation and microphlebectomy on a cluster of varicosities. I am on lifetime warfarin due to my mechanical mitral valve with a goal inr of 3.0. I am very nervous about bleeding. I assumed I would have to wean from warfarin somewhat, but my surgeon is confident that the procedure will go as planned with no alteration of my dosing. Has anyone here experienced this or anything similar?
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Hi @atufte, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I'd like to invite @4aces4me and @sandyjr to this conversation to share their experiences with getting their varicose veins treated, which procedure they had done and how that went for them.
@atufte, having concerns about being on a blood thinner during a procedure seems perfectly reasonable. It sounds like your surgeon is confident it won't be an issue. Is the procedure you are scheduled for relatively non-invasive with less risk of bleeding?
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1 Reaction@JustinMcClanahan thank you. It's the microphlebectomy portion I am nervous about. Tiny incisions of 1-3 mm are made and then the veins are removed from an instrument with a hook. It is relatively non-invasive but when I bleed from a nosebleed for example, it's quite extensive, long lasting, and difficult to stop.
I had ablation on my varicose veins. I had varicose veins in one leg for many years. They were in the calf and were getting progressively worse until I had 2 instances of spontaneous bleeding…yes, my leg bled! Very scary and there was a lot of blood. I went to an excellent vascular surgeon (lucky me, he was my first choice…a wonderful doctor). They did an ultrasound of both legs and the lone had a problem with the saphenous vein in my thigh. He explained that varicose veins are often caused by problems in this vein. When the problem there is fixed, it often fixes the varicose veins in the bottom of the leg. The procedure was ablation…a very fine instrument is inserted in the problem vein. It does go in quite far. It is heated as it is withdrawn (yes, I thought it was painful, but not terribly.) you are awake, but they give you a local. It is done gradually. If it seals off the vein properly, blood will not pool in the veins in the bottom of the leg. If the ablation does not solve the problem in the top of the leg, then you go back and have it done in the bottom. It worked on the first try and my leg has not looked this good in years. The procedure is done in a clinical room…not the OR or hospital and takes about 1/2 hour. You have to wear a compression stocking for a while after. You have a tiny cut where the instrument is inserted which is covered by a bandaid after. There was no talk of removing the vein surgically. If you are in the NJ area, I can give you his name etc. I have been told by others that vein stripping (is that what you are getting?) is not done much any more. Look it up on YouTube.
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1 ReactionI have had vein removal twice. 1998 lasted until 2023. Old time stripping and cauterized veins both legs. 18 total: 12 in one leg, 6 in the other. This was done to prevent rupture. Up and at 'em in two weeks. Wore support hose for those years. 2023 new system. Lousy doctors and poor results. Still have pain in my foot where they used laser. Chemical sealing took 6 months to heal and the chemical cauterization gave way just last month. Advise: get a good doctor and make sure they are reputable.