Case Studies
Take a look at the work of angioclinic® vein centers:
Now it’s your turn to discuss:
This very nice young lady unfortunately already has proper varicose veins at the age of 14, extending from the left groin along the entire outside of the leg (A, B). Ugly, but still without pain. The cause is shown in the vein diagram (C): The uppermost valve is missing in the groin area, and directly adjacent to it, there is a vein valve with a very large gap, which has already led to an “aneurysm” (large bulging).
The large collecting vein (main vein, yellow) is still functional. However, it is already overloaded by a cross-connection (*). The vein valve marked with “p4” (D) will soon fail, and then this young person will also lose her important main vein.
Question for you: Treat? That would be four tiny pricks and 15 minutes of imperceptible treatment. Or wait? Until symptoms appear, and even more veins are damaged?
Times are changing! 30 years ago, there was only one choice: a life with compression stockings or surgical operation, in this case with general anesthesia. Both are bad. Compression stockings are not really fun for a child; they are almost stigmatized. The stockings also do not change the disease; at best, they delay the deterioration a little. And the operation: far too risky, absolutely not appropriate. So, in the past, people rightly hesitated until the symptoms became so severe that there was “no other way”. The catch: thanks to backward-thinking experts, most insurance companies also believe that only symptoms are a reason for proper treatment. Yet, compression stockings cost a fortune over the years – and the patient suffers.
Today, we view the topic of “when and how to treat” (at angioclinic®) in terms of prevention. Just as it has long been established in dentistry. Avoid damage and pain! We see every detail of every single vein valve in young patients. We know what will become diseased next. We can measure how quickly the disease progresses. And we can reliably prevent it painlessly and without surgery.
Provided the family wishes it, we will always help young patients when 1) help is possible, and when 2) the risks and 3) the costs are in a very favorable ratio to the benefits.
The Influence of Genes
When people notice something they don’t understand and can’t explain, imagination comes into play. Gods and spirits, for example, if you don’t know about weather and natural laws. “Bad air” if you know nothing about bacteria and viruses. And in our time, it’s often too quickly attributed to genes. But – there is no evidence for vein weakness so far.
What is true: Until 10 years ago, no one knew about the essential structures in our veins because we couldn’t see them clearly with ultrasound. But since the Berlin Children’s Study, we know that the causes of vein weakness are congenital, without any recognizable genetic influence. They are purely mechanical defects that can and should be corrected mechanically. Genes contribute to how quickly valve defects manifest and spread, as they determine the qualities of the valves, the vein wall, and the surrounding connective tissue. Perhaps genes also play a small role in movement behavior? In any case, people with ADHD are less likely to suffer from vein disease because they move more. The main factor for vein diseases is in our heads: Do I go for early detection? Do I get treated early, and always without surgery? THAT is crucial for the further course. Healing is only possible in the first few decades; after that, it becomes chronic.