Varicose Vein Removal: My Experience

#SurgicalShadowing

What is a Varicose Vein?

Varicose veins, commonly known as spider veins, are essentially twisted, enlarged veins. Typically, they are found in the legs and are typically not associated with health concerns. While they tend to have no symptoms for the majority of people, the procedure for their removal is typically performed for cosmetic purposes.

The Process

Because the varicose vein is easy to spot from the outside, the surgical area is quite clear to spot. The surgeon made three distinct incisions in the leg: one near the ankle at the base of the vein, one near the calf at the midpoint of the vein, and another in the upper thigh at the top of the vein. The varicose vein goes should be within the length of the first and third incisions. From there, a long metal rod is threaded through the vein from the first incision of the ankle and through the third incision in the upper thigh. The vein is then separated from the skin and the rest of the leg muscle is removed. The end of the rod is held by the doctor and then swiftly pulled out from the third upper thigh incision, pulling out the varicose vein on the spot.

Half of the leg is covered by a cast before the vein is pulled. Once pulled, other practitioners fully cast the leg, and pressure was applied to stop bleeding.

My Thoughts

This procedure was by far the most rugged and physically demanding surgery I experienced during my surgical shadowing. The metal rod pulling method, as the surgeon explained, is an older technique that K.R. hospital uses due to a lack of resources. In the United States, hospitals use laser surgery to burn the vein from the leg rather than physically remove it.

Nevertheless, the efficiency of the procedure cannot be undermined. In nearly 30 minutes, the procedure was complete and the patient only required regional anesthesia. The threading of the metal was the most complicated part varicose veins tend to be tangled and crossed, so there was some precision needed. During the actual pulling, I was standing behind the surgeon, and some blood splattered on my face. Although I was quite rattled, I was quick to realize that this was a common occurrence in the operating room. I simply washed off the blood and continued to shadow the final moments of the procedure.

Here is a picture of the varicose vein after it was removed. You can see the metal rod from the side. Keep in mind that the vein is much longer but it was compressed when it was pulled out.