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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
AMBULATORY PHLEBECTOMY
• There are several techniques for removing or reducing unwanted
veins in your legs. These range from injecting medications (sclerotherapy)
for the smallest veins to stripping and ligation for the largest
veins.
• For medium-sized varicose veins, ambulatory phlebectomy
is currently the most effective treatment.
• Ambulatory phlebectomy is an outpatient procedure in which
we numb the skin over the varicose vein, and then make a small
slit in the skin, and remove segments of the vein which will cause
the entire varicosity to disappear.
• Ambulatory phlebectomy will not treat your very large varicose
veins.
• There is a chance that your varicosities may return in
the future.
• We do require that you get a preoperative test to determine
the extent of your varicosities.
PRE-OPERATIVE PLANNING
• Please stop all aspirin or aspirin-related products two
weeks before the operation.
• Please stop all anti-inflammatories including
Advil/Ibuprofen/Naproxen/Vioxx/Celebrex or others at least 10
days before the operation.
• Please stop Ginkgo Biloba, Vitmain E and Vitamin C at least
10 days before surgery.
• Please arrange to have someone pick you up after surgery
since you should not drive.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE DAY OF SURGERY
• You should have someone drive you to and from the procedure
as your legs will be sore.
• You should wear comfortable, old slacks or preferably sweat
pants as you will have some drainage after the procedure.
• Dr. Gladstone will photograph and mark the veins that will
be removed.
• You will lie on the operating table, and we will infiltrate
the areas with numbing medication.
• Dr. Gladstone and his associates will then remove the veins.
• Your legs will then be wrapped with a compressive, elastic
dressing.
• The entire procedure requires approximately 2 hours.POST-TREATMENT
CARE
– Your legs will be sore. Extra-strength Tylenol will minimize
the discomfort.
– Though you should walk around on the day of surgery, you
should rest.
– Drainage will continue for the first 48 hours.
– You may have some swelling and bruising. Frozen vegetables
placed over the
bandages will help minimize the swelling and bruising.
– You may remove your dressing and change the gauze pads
after 24 hours.
– You should wear your compression dressing for the first
4 days after surgery.
– You should then wear light compression stockings as much
as possible
– Please take your prescribed antibiotic medications.
– Should you have a fever, or experience increased pain,
please contact us immediately.
– Your first follow-up appointment will be in one week.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
Please call our clinic at 650.723.6316, and ask for Dr. Gladstone.
For after hours, please page Dr. Gladstone through the hospital
operator 650.723.6661. If your page is not responded to, then
ask for the dermatologist on-call.
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