Definition of Varicose vein - noninvasive treatment:

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted, painful veins that have filled with blood. They usually develop in the legs. Your doctor may be able to treat them in noninvasive ways instead of vein stripping, the traditional surgery for this problem.

Description:

Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing so it does not collect in one place. But the valves in varicose veins are either damaged or missing. This causes the veins to remain filled with blood, especially when you are standing.

Nonsurgical treatments for this problem are done in a doctorâ ' s office or clinic. You will receive local anesthesia to numb your leg. You will be awake but not feel pain.

Sclerotherapy is one common treatment. Your doctor will inject saline (saltwater) or a chemical solution into the varicose vein. The vein will harden and then disappear.

Newer methods are also being use to treat varicose veins. One is called radiofrequency ablation. Another is called endovenous laser ablation. Each of these uses intense heat to treat the vein. During these procedures:

• Your doctor will puncture the varicose vein. Ultrasound (a painless way to see inside your leg) will guide your doctor during the treatment.
• Your doctor will thread a catheter (a flexible tube) through the vein up to your groin. The doctor will inject a special solution into your vein to numb it.
• Intense heat will reach the vein through the catheter in the vein. The heat will close off and destroy the vein. The vein will disappear over time.