Panaji: Varicose vein disease affects 20 to 25% of the adult population in Goa. These veins become problematic when the walls weaken and blood pressure in the veins increases, causing them to enlarge and the valves to fail. This leads to blood pooling, which results in swelling, bulging, and twisting of the veins.
Individuals in professions requiring long periods of standing, such as bus conductors, teachers, chefs, and surgeons, as well as those with hereditary conditions, are particularly susceptible. Symptoms can include itching, pain, heaviness in the lower extremities, muscle cramps, ankle swelling, discoloration, lipodermatosclerosis, and ulcerations.
EVLA is a state-of-the-art technique that involves making a small 2 mm incision below the knee joint to insert a laser fiber. The vein is then heated to 120 degrees, effectively treating the condition. This minimally invasive procedure requires only a day for admission and allows patients to walk after two hours and return to work the following day.
This new facility is now available at Goa Medical College. Patients can schedule appointments with the Department of Interventional Radiology.
