Varicose Veins, Thread Veins, Spider Veins, PhotoDerm, Sclerotherapy, Surgery, Thrombosis

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Investigation of Varicose Veins

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Thread Veins & Sclerotherapy

Painful Veins

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Traveller's Thrombosis

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Traveller's Thrombosis

This is a summary of the paper:

‘Airline Travel: A randomised trial to assess the incidence of asymptomatic DVT and prevention by graduated compression stockings’

by J Scurr, SJ Machin SJ, S Bailey-King, IJ Mackie, S McDonald , Coleridge Smith PD,
Lancet 12th May 2001.

This is the most detailed paper to date on this subject and has been provided to assist with your understanding and to offer advice on what to do whilst flying.

The purpose of this study was to try to establish whether people flying long-haul developed clots in the leg. A lot of anecdotal information has been provided and there is now genuine concern that flying may cause clots, some of which can be very serious. Using a very sensitive technique we were able to detect very small clots in 12 out of 100 passengers flying long-haul. All these clots were small and in most passengers dissolved without treatment. In the remaining passengers anti-coagulants were given and the clots all dissolved before they became important. What this study has shown is that it is extremely common to develop small clots. We still do not know how many passengers will go on to get a bigger clot, either affecting the leg on a long-term basis, or travelling to the lung. At the same time we studied these passengers, a further 100 passengers were fitted with Medi-travel elastic stockings. these stockings squeezed the leg, promoting blood flow through the deep veins and preventing the deeper veins from enlarging during long periods of inactivity. We were unable to detect any clots in the deep veins in these 100 passengers, suggesting that the use of the Medi-travel elastic stockings is a very effective way of preventing the development of clot.

Four of the passengers wearing elastic stockings complained of pain in the superficial veins. These passengers had quite marked varicose veins. It is probable, therefore, that passengers with bad varicose veins are prone to the stocking rubbing on the veins and causing inflammation locally. Superficial thrombophlebitis is not a serious condition although it can be quite painful.

In summary, passengers who fly long-haul are at risk of developing small clots. It is probable that a number of these passengers will go on to develop bigger clots and more serious problems. The use of an elastic compression stocking (Medi-travel) is an effective way of reducing this risk.

Recommendations - preventing deep vein thrombosis

Following this study and a proven link between air travel and the development of deep vein thrombosis, we would make the following recommendations:
Any passenger with a history of clots or co-existing medical problems such as heart trouble, lung trouble, cancer or a recent operation should consult their own general practitioner before travelling. Your general practitioner can assess whether there is a real risk and advise you appropriately.

For passengers in good health, then we would make the following recommendations:

Before travelling obtain a pair of Medi-travel elastic stockings (www.mediuk.co.uk). These should be worn for the duration of the flight, both outbound and inbound. Before getting on the aeroplane take a reasonable amount of exercise and avoid drinking alcohol.
When on the aeroplane drink plenty of water and avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Whilst you are sitting in your seat, move your feet up and down regularly and if you can get out of your seat, walk round the aeroplane. If you are not walking round your aeroplane and you are in your seat with your seatbelt fastened, moving the feet up and down does promote the flow of blood through the legs, particularly if you are wearing an elastic compression stocking.

We believe these simple measures are effective in reducing the risk of developing even a small blood clot, and certainly effective in reducing the risk of developing a large blood clot.

Help! All these treatments! Which is the one for me?

Mr Philip Coleridge Smith DM FRCS
Reader in Surgery, UCL Medical School, London .
Consultant Vascular Surgeon - BVI Medical Director
The British Vein Institute: 0800 7836106

Varicose veins

treatment and thread vein removal - an introduction. Arteries bring blood from the heart to the extremities. Veins contain one way valves and channel blood back to the heart. When there is obstruction of veins, or when prolonged pressure is placed on the veins, the valves stretch and no longer close properly. This allows blood to travel back down the veins towards the feet. The veins in the legs that are near to the surface of the skin enlarge and result in what is commonly called varicose veins. These can range from minor dilatations to large bunch of grape-like structures in the calf. Very small purple or blue veins in the skin of the legs are called "thread veins" or "spider veins" or dermal flares and often occur alongside large varicose veins. Some people are only affected by dermal flares. Both types of varicose veins are probably caused by the same factors. Varicose veins is a slowly progressive disease which if left untreated can lead to marked skin change damage or ulceration near the ankle. Why do varicose veins arise? Varicose Veins, Thread Veins, Spider Veins, PhotoDerm, Sclerotherapy, Surgery, Thrombosis Heredity is important in the development of varicose veins, thread veins and spider veins. Up to 20% of the adult population have varicose veins and experience discomfort as a result. Many people know of other family members with the same problem. A recent study showed that where both parents had varicose veins there was an 80% chance of their children developing varices. Environmental factors also play a large part in the development of varicosities, for example, prolonged standing - especially for workers such as nurses, sales assistants, flight attendants, waitresses and teachers, for example. Diet may also be a factor, and our Western diet with high content of fat and refined sugar with low fiber content may contribute to the development of varicose veins, spider veins and thread veins. Varicose veins may also become more frequent with advancing age, but may appear at any time of life and small varices are sometimes seen in school children. Although all factors such as puberty, pregnancy and the menopause also influence the course of the disease. As many as 70 - 80% of pregnant women develop varicose veins during the first trimester. Pregnancy causes an increase in hormone levels and blood volume which in turn causes veins to enlarge. Later in pregnancy, the enlarge uterus causes increased pressure on the veins in the pelvis. Approximately 60 - 70% of varicose veins due to pregnancy will disappear within a few months of delivery. Little research has been done to investigate the role of the pill and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the development of varicose veins. These probably have no influence on them. What are the symptoms of varicose veins, varicose vein problems and vein diseases that we can resolve by laser therapy,

vein treatment

, and varicose vein operations in our varicose vein clinics?

by injections sclerotherapy PhotoDerm and surgery. VNUS Closure or RF ablation is another recent method of treatment. This reduces the post-operative pain in after vein operations and venous operations in venous clinics performed by vascular specialists for leg veins. Varicose veins may cause feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching and cramps in the legs. These symptoms are often accompanied by swelling of the ankle, which frequently appears after long hours of standing. Some people are very troubled by the aching that varicose veins produce. Even small dermal flares can result in severe aching which prevents standing for any length of time. What can I do to prevent them? Treatment of varicose veins and

thread veins

by injections sclerotherapy PhotoDerm and surgery and perhaps Veinwave. The can be managed by our vein consultants who make a vein diagnosis in our vein clinics and treat veins by vein injections and other varicose vein remedies. This is helpful in the management of thread vein problems by thread vein remedies in our thread vein clinics. Many of the things that seem to cause varicose veins are difficult to avoid such as a family history of Western way of life. Where possible standing still for long periods should be avoided. Walking is much better for the veins and helps the blood return to the heart from the legs. In occupations that require extended periods of standing then a few steps should be taken at regular short intervals to help circulation. Wearing support stockings may also reduce the likelihood of varicose veins. No creams or drugs are available to prevent varicose veins. The earlier varicose veins and dermal flares are treated the better the long term and cosmetic outcome. We hope that this varicose vein information will help you understand the causes of thread veins .

Facial veins can be treated by IPL (PhotoDerm treatment). This is also useful for rosacea and broken veins on the face.

One the legs thread vein removal or broken veins can be treated by sclerotherapy (also known as microsclerotherapy) by a vascular surgeon or a nurse specialist. These may cause aching legs or swollen legs in some patients.

We have locations in London including Wimpole Street near Harley Street.