Treatment
Venous Disease
The clinical presentation of venous disease varies and may include the following:-
- Spider veins – minor dilatation of surface veins
- Reticular veins – dilated blue surface veins
- Varicose veins – protruding dilated veins
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
CVI is characterised by leg swelling, brown discolouration of the skin on the lower leg, sometimes eczema (rash) on the lower leg, and, in the most severe form of venous disease, an ulcer (a sore which will not heal) on the lower leg. 90% of leg ulcers are caused by chronic venous disease.
Sclerotherapy
Dr Campbell treats all forms of venous disease by a non-surgical, injection method of treatment called sclerotherapy. He is one of the most experienced Sclerotherapists in Australia.
Sclerotherapy is an office-based treatment which involves injection into the diseased vein of a special substance (sclerosant) followed by the application of compression with special compression pads and a surgical stocking. This procedure leads to the eventual obliteration of the injected diseased vein.
Treatment by sclerotherapy usually requires approximately 2-4 injection sessions per leg, and the period of compression usually is about 6-8 weeks, during which time patients are required to take a brisk walk daily for 60minutes or 2 x 30minute walks. There may be some patients who are unable to do the walking due to eg Arthritis. Arrangements are made for these patients to hire a special intermittent compression apparatus which substitutes for the walking.
Sclerotherapy causes minimal discomfort, and does not require hospitalization nor general anaesthesia. There is no incapacity, and the only time off work is for attendance for treatment.
Ultrasound Examination of the Veins
Before treatment most legs need to be examined by a duplex ultrasound investigation which is done on-site at the accredited Carrington Vascular Laboratory. This examination is performed by a specially trained and qualified Vascular Sonographer who is familiar with the detailed information Dr Campbell requires for planning your successful treatment. Ultrasound examination of the veins performed elsewhere often fails to provide sufficiently detailed information for this purpose and so may not be useful. The ultrasound examination often discovers more deeply placed varicose veins which can not be seen or felt, and such varicose veins will need to be treated by ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.