Vascular surgeon in Slavuta

What happens at a vascular surgery appointment

The doctor asks about your symptoms, lifestyle and whether varicose veins run in your family. Then the doctor examines your legs and does some special tests. To confirm the findings, the doctor performs a vascular ultrasound with color Doppler and, if needed, orders blood and urine tests and an ECG.

An accurate diagnosis is only possible after an exam and tests, so do not treat yourself. Even large veins may not bother you for a long time, and pain often appears only with complications such as thrombosis, phlebitis or sudden bleeding. If you notice changes in your legs, do not put off a checkup.

Besides varicose veins, a vascular surgeon helps with chronic venous insufficiency, thrombophlebitis, lymphedema, Raynaud’s disease and hemangiomas. After the tests, the doctor suggests a treatment plan. Varicose veins are treated at the clinic on an outpatient basis.

Who should have their veins checked

Varicose veins most often develop when a hereditary tendency is combined with other factors: an unbalanced diet, unhealthy habits, excess weight, diabetes, or taking hormonal medicines without medical supervision. Veins are also strained by working on your feet or sitting all day, for example in an office, a bank or at a checkout, and by too little movement. People in these groups should see a phlebologist at least once a year, so the doctor can spot changes early or monitor the veins after treatment.

How varicose veins are treated

The doctor decides whether you need treatment during the exam: special tests at the consultation, then a vein ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is recommended when varicose veins are caused by faulty vein valves and lead to swelling, pain or cramps. Many patients come because of how their legs look, and treatment can then be done without other symptoms if the ultrasound shows that the vein valves are not working.

The clinic uses minimally invasive methods. In sclerotherapy, a sclerosing medicine is injected into the vein and seals its walls. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA, also called EVLC) acts on the affected vein from the inside through a small puncture: the vein walls seal together, and over time the body absorbs the vein. Radiofrequency ablation seals the affected vein with a high-frequency probe. Once the vein is closed, blood no longer pools in it, pressure on the walls of the veins under the skin drops, and blood flows through the healthy veins.

Laser treatment does not suit every vein, so the doctor decides after a vein ultrasound. If this method is not right for you, the doctor will explain other options. After treatment, you will get advice on activity and compression stockings and come back for a follow-up visit.

Do I need to go to Khmelnytskyi for varicose vein treatment?

No. You can have varicose veins examined and treated in Slavuta, at Viva Clinic. Patients come to us from Netishyn, Shepetivka, Khmelnytskyi, the Khmelnytskyi and Rivne regions and from all over Ukraine. The vascular surgeon sees patients by appointment, with no waiting in line. Lab tests are done at our own Diagnost-Lab laboratory at 32 Sobornosti St. If you have signed a declaration with a Viva Clinic family doctor, basic lab tests and an ECG are free for you. A consultation with a vascular surgeon is paid.