Ambulatory Phlebectomy
Ambulatory means being able to walk. Phlebectomy means to remove a vein. An ambulatory phlebectomy is a procedure done to remove veins that leaves you able to walk immediately after the procedure.
Some phlebologists prefer to remove larger varicose veins by ambulatory, or micro-phlebectomy. Endovenous laser fibers cannot be passed into varicose veins unless the veins are fairly straight. So, another procedure must be used to eliminate the tortuous or "curvy" veins. Sometimes a phlebologist will recommend an ambulatory phlebectomy, while other times ultrasound guided foamed sclerotherapy will be recommended.
An ambulatory phlebectomy will sometimes be done just after an EVLA, and sometimes it will be delayed a few days or even a few weeks. Your doctor will mark the varicose veins with a skin marker before you lay down on the procedure table. Your leg is then cleaned with antibacterial soap and draped in sterile surgical drapes. The veins are then numbed in the same way the vein is numbed before doing an EVLA. Your doctor makes a 2 to 3 mm incision next to the vein. A 3 mm incision is about as long as three credit cards are thick when stacked on each other. Your phlebologist will then pass a tiny hook-like instrument, called a phlebectomy hook, through the incision. The doctor will loop the hook around the vein and gently extract a length of vein from under the skin. The segment of the vein will then be removed. Another incision will be made further down the vein; another segment of vein will be removed and so on until the diseased vein has been fully removed. Micro-phlebectomies are performed in the phlebologist’s office. There are no stitches, and you can get up and walk immediately after the procedure. The after care is the same as after EVLA.
Dr. Dupper at Vein Treatment Specialists, PC has performed many phlebectomies. When he feels this is the appropriate procedure for your vein problems, he will advise you. This minimally invasive procedure does not require sutures or general anesthesia and is easily performed in the treatment room at Vein Treatment Specialists, PC.
