Our clinical work is focused on the management of arterial, venous and AV access. The various conditions treated are
Varicose veins is a disease commonly seen in people who have prolonged hours of standing as part of their day. It is one of the manifestations of Chronic Venous Insufficiency, which occurs due to the inability of blood to ascend through the venous system of the legs, causing them to stagnate in the legs. Anatomically, the cause of the problem could be the superficial, veins deep veins or the perforator system. It leads to various complaints from patients comprising of pain, dilated veins, leg swelling, blackish discolouration of skin around the ankles and non-healing ulcers. Patients present with one or more of the above mentioned symptoms, often after a long duration of having the disease. A Duplex ultrasound establishes the anatomical cause of the disease, contributing to the line of management chosen. Treatment involves Conservative management involving Compression stockings or bandaging with ankle exercises and physiotherapy to reduce oedema, Endovascular surgery by RFA, EVLA or MOCA and Open surgical options like TSSA.
Several procedures including the current international standard of care and newer techniques such as Mechano-chemical ablation of GSV (MOCA) and Glue (VenaBlock) are performed.
Endovenous laser ablation – The procedure is very similar to that of the radiofrequency ablation but it uses a different fibre which uses laser energy to destroy the vein from within. It is also practically painless and the patient can home the same day.
Radiofrequency ablation – This involves insertion of a sheath and a radiofrequency fibre into the GSV from a needle puncture on the inner side of the knee joint. The fibre then travels inside the vein till the thigh and as the fibre is withdrawn downwards, the vein is destroyed from within. The procedure takes about 20 minutes and is done both under local and regional anaesthesia. It is practically painless and the patient can go home the same day.
Mechano-chemical ablation of GSV – This uses a fibre which has both chemical and mechanical prongs which damages the vein as it is withdrawn through the vein. As the fibre is withdrawn, a chemical (sclerosant) is injected which destroys the vein from within.