Description

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Varicose veins are a global health problem with socioeconomic consequences. Annual and long-term care of this disease is costly in developed countries. This unusual leg disorder has many different, sometimes vague, symptoms. Recognizing these symptoms and making a firm diagnosis are the first steps in mitigating this global disease.

Traditionally, treatment of varicose veins has been surgical, at best providing temporary palliation, sometimes residual disease, and often recurrence. However, with the introduction of new interventional techniques, the treatment scenario for varicose veins has completely changed in recent years. As commonly said, intravenous procedures not only improved the morbidity associated with this disease, but also achieved higher technical success rates.

The most popular of these techniques is intravascular laser resurfacing. The procedure is performed in many different ways around the world, but it basically boils down to the same basic mechanism of action. However, anyone attempting this procedure may initially have a myriad of questions about the disease and treatment.