Varicose veins: disfigurement or disease?

• Published in: Herz Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 18 - 25
• Main Author: Bohler, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany Springer Nature B.V 01-02-2007
• Subjects: Catheter Ablation - methods; Cosmetic Techniques; Humans; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Practice Patterns, Physicians; Stockings, Compression; Varicose Veins - therapy
• ISSN: 0340-9937; 1615-6692
• DOI: 10.1007/s00059-007-2930-2

According to one's subjective appraisal varicose veins will be perceived as more or less disfiguring. About 60% of the population suffer from only minor variants of varicose veins which bear no risk to health. A certain percentage will develop progressive disease with the venous ulcer representing the worst variant of chronic venous insufficiency. As long as there is no progressive disease, therapeutic modalities also account for a superior cosmetic appearance. Endoluminal procedures in particular meet with the claim for a superior treatment result with respect to cosmetic outcome without diminution of efficiency. In case of progressive venous insufficiency appearance is of inferior importance. About 70% of venous ulcers are due to primary varicose veins. Surgery of all accessible superficial refluxing veins is important to prevent recurrence. Compression treatment is highly effective in preventing chronic venous insufficiency and in venous ulcer treatment. About 60% of venous ulcers heal within a 24-week treatment period.