If you have varicose veins and believe that they are unsightly, then you may want to work with your doctor to treat the veins. Sclerotherapy is one type of treatment that you can invest in and involves the injection of a saline solution into the raised veins. This collapses them so they are no longer visible. If you decide on the treatment, you should know that there are some complications that can develop, as with other medical procedures. Keep reading to learn about them so you are fully prepared to undergo the procedure.
Blood Clots
As the saline solution is inserted into your vein, the tissue lining of the blood vessel becomes irritated. This causes the vessel to collapse and some blood is trapped in the process. Sometimes, a large accumulation of blood is trapped in one area of the vein. A larger clot can then form and will remain in the blood vessel. Sometimes the clots will produce large and raised lumps along the vessels in the legs. These lumps can be drained by your physician and this is often the best choice for the biggest clots that develop.
Rarely, large blood clots move from the vein to a deeper position in one of the legs. This is called a deep vein thrombosis and it is a serious condition. The clot can further travel to the lungs and cause significant breathing problems. To prevent this from occuring, you will need to take blood thinner medication. This keeps the clot from growing larger or breaking off and lodging itself in your lung.
Air Bubbles
Sometimes small bits of air can move into your veins during the treatment. These air bubbles rise in the bloodstream and move throughout the body. The air will not cause a serious issue like a heart attack, stroke, or a respiratory distress episode. These are things that are common with larger accumulations of air called embolisms.
While a major incident is unlikely to occur due to the air in the bloodstream from a sclerotherapy treatment, you are likely to develop some symptoms from the bubbles. You are likely to feel headaches and some nausea and you may even faint. If the air travels to the eye, then you may notice some floaters or other disturbances in the way you see.
The good news is that symptoms from the air will go away within a short period of time. However, if you notice any numbness in the extremeties or sharp pains, then contact your physician right away.
Speak with varicose vein services to learn more.
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