What Examinations are Needed for Varicose Veins?
Varicose veins can be seen. The cause however, is hidden and always lies deeper in the tissue. It’s clear: If the cause is not properly clarified, any therapy will only provide temporary relief!
In the past, attempts were made to understand vein function by measuring venous pressures and pumping capacity (plethysmography), and later also with Doppler probes (ultrasound without imaging). Today, these examinations only have a supplementary character. Previously, a phlebography was often performed, which is an X-ray examination with contrast medium. Today, this is only necessary in rare cases, for example, for varicose veins deep in the abdominal cavity.
The most significant role is played by
the ultrasound examination (sonography). Generally speaking, it allows one to look deep into the tissue; almost everyone is familiar with this today. All modern systems offer a “color mode” (color Doppler, color duplex), in which blood flow is displayed in color and realistically. A friendly doctor will gladly explain your venous system to you during the examination. Using ultrasound, your doctor at angioclinic Vein Center Zurich much more: He can tell you where your condition originates from, which veins require treatment and which can be saved, what preventive measures are recommended, and how to achieve the best aesthetic result.
The quality of an ultrasound examination is only as good as the doctor’s knowledge: For example, if the examination is only performed while lying down, the doctor can only clarify about 30% of the findings. When standing, the rate of correct findings increases to 60% (this is classic training), and if the examiner is informed about specific maneuvers to simulate your daily stresses, they will correctly diagnose up to 80% of diagnoses. The missing 20% clearly show why many treatments still do not lead to satisfaction today. A traditional surgeon will always primarily think of operating, overlooking many modern possibilities. The physics of veins is extremely complex, and every local change made by the doctor during a treatment alters the entire system. There are only a handful of ultrasound specialists in the world whose venous diagnostics are consistent in more than 95% of cases, thus leading to optimal therapy. In our Vein Center in Zurich, we have such specialists.
Diagnostics has clear goals, and every patient should know and understand them:
- Where are there overloaded venous valves and overstretched vein segments?
- Where does blood flow incorrectly?
- Why did this happen? (important for prevention!)
- Can the venous circulation be normalized with full vein preservation?
- If there are diseased veins that can no longer be healed, which methods are the gentlest, least risky, and most reliable?
A doctor who does not know all modern treatment options cannot make the correct diagnoses, as they do not know how to pay attention to the important details. In our Vein Center in Zurich, we examine your vein problem, with or without varicose veins, and determine the optimal therapy for you.
Make your appointment with Dr. Ragg now .
