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Ambulatory Phlebectomy

This a modern and much less traumatic version of vein stripping which may be used to remove bulging varicose veins which can be seen at the skin surface.

It is done under local anesthetic in the office under sterile conditions.

In this procedure the skin is marked and injected with a dilute anesthetic solution followed by small puncture sites made approximately every inch along the course of the vein. Small hooks are then inserted through the needle punctures and the vein is grasped and pulled through the opening. The vein is gradually worked through the opening and either removed in pieces or sometimes in one long piece. Steristrips are placed over the needle puncture sites and a compression dressing followed by compression stockings placed over the leg(s).

Following the procedure the patient is ambulatory and may return to work the next day. There may be some tenderness along the course of the removed vein and there will be some bruising which will resolve over the following two weeks.

This procedure is frequently done to remove bulging veins in the calf in association with an Endovenous Laser Treatment procedure to close the saphenous vein in the thigh. It is also very effective in removing smaller veins anywhere on the leg.