Vascular Care Centre

Venous diseases present themselves in two main forms:

• Varicose veins
• Venous thromboembolic diseases (thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism)

Heat treatments for varicose veins

A specialist needs to perform a venous test to diagnose varicose veins. Indeed, although cutaneous varicose veins are superficial and often visible to the naked eye, internal varicose veins can only be seen by echography. Apart from their sometimes anaesthetic nature, varicose veins can on occasion be responsible for more or less serious symptoms such as heavy legs, oedema or even venous insufficiency and phlebitis.

Surgical treatment for varicose veins is increasingly less prescribed. Doctors prefer to steer patients towards heat treatment by laser or radiofrequency ablation. These are less invasive and equally effective alternatives. They involve burning the varicose vein from the inside, without leaving any external scars. They can be performed as an outpatient, with a simple local anaesthetic. For more serious cases deep sedation (e.g. hypnosedation) or a general anaesthetic and a night in hospital may still be necessary.

Venous thrombosis 

Venous thrombosis is a medical emergency, caused by the formation of a clot in the blood stream. It can have serious consequences for circulation in the veins, provoking a venous ulcer, or, if it migrates and obstructs the pulmonary artery, causing a pulmonary embolism.

In most cases, the treatment consists of thinning blood using oral anticoagulants. Only serious situations require hospitalisation.  

Blood flow can also be affected in the arteries.

Arterial diseases

Arterial diseases present themselves in two main forms:

• Narrowed or blocked arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Dilated arteries (aneurysm)

Narrowed or blocked arteries

These can cause pain when walking, typically in the calf or thighs (vascular claudication), this disease which is sometimes known as “window-shopper’s syndrome” can become debilitating on a daily basis. Revascularisation may be suggested using one of two techniques:

• Balloon dilation +/- fitting of a stent (small metal spring)
• A bypass, which is reserved for cases where a balloon cannot be used.

Aneurysms

Aneurysms (dilated arteries), especially at the level of the abdominal aorta can be treated in a traditional manner with surgery. At Clinique des Grangettes they are mostly treated using keyhole surgery catheterisation.

All of these acts are performed by highly specialised surgeons. Dilatations are carried out in a catheterisation suite under a local anaesthetic. Surgical bypasses are carried out in the operating theatre under a general anaesthetic.