Phlebectomy
Phlebectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure that is used to treat severe cases of venous disease caused by a condition known as venous reflux, in which damaged veins allow blood to flow backward and pool. It involves the physical removal of a diseased vein in the following manner:
- The affected veins are mapped using a marker while the patient is in a standing position.
- The veins to be removed are anesthetized with local anesthesia
- A series of small punctures are made that follow the course of the marked veins.
- A tiny crochet-needle like instrument is inserted into the punctures, through which small segments of the veins are gently removed, one at a time.
As a result of this procedure, blood that had been pooling in the affected vein will re-route its course through healthy veins.