Stripping (surgery)

Stripping is the classic method for the surgical treatment of varicose veins ( varices ). It is considered the gold standard for varicose veins and goes back to the US surgeon William Wayne Babcock .

procedure

During stripping, a flexible special probe is inserted into the pathologically enlarged vein, pushed forward to its end and then discharged again. The varices are then cut through at the top and bottom and fixed on the probe, which then takes the varicose vein under the skin when it is pulled out (stripping). The stripping operation can be carried out under general anesthesia, partial anesthesia or also under local anesthesia ; it can be done on an outpatient or inpatient basis. The decisive factor here is the severity of the findings and the patient's psychological state. After the procedure, compression with elastic bandages or compression stockings is recommended for 3 to 6 weeks , as well as an anticoagulant treatment with heparin for several days to avoid thrombosis and embolism .

Bloodlessness

The operation is supported by creating a so-called "blood void". To do this, the blood is first pressed out of the leg using a very strong compression wrap. A pressure cuff then placed on the thigh prevents the blood from flowing back into the leg during the operation. The "bloodlessness" prevents the formation of hematomas .

Risks

Varicose veins can form again after the operation. A study has shown that the formation of new varicose veins is relatively often due to technical errors during the operation. According to this, 64 percent of relapses are caused by remains of the trunk vein that have not been completely removed. Lymphatic congestion is a further complication, as the lymphatic vessels running close to the distant veins can be injured during the operation, which can lead to swelling of the affected area or even swelling of the entire extremity.

Web links

• Variceal stripping on the website of the Vascular Center Bremen

Notes and individual references

1. ↑ Erika Mendoza: Guide to varicose veins, leg swelling and thrombosis , Springer Verlag, Heidelberg 2016, ISBN 978-3-662-49737-1 , page 191 - page 192
2. ↑ NZZ -Online: Varicose veins - various therapies, little study data

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !