Q: I am a 48 years old male and have given below the details of scan done for my varicose veins. Colour Doppler study of femoral vein, popliteal vein, ATV, PTV & DPV was done. No Thrombus. Lumen is anechoic with normal flow. Veins are compressible. Augmentation response is normal. Sapheno-femoral reflex +, Ileo-femoral reflex +, Long Saphenous vein is dilated (6mm) and shows reflex with varicose veins in the upper part of leg region medially, anteriorly & laterally with one incompetent perforator medially. Inguinal Lymphadenopathy. Subcutaneous edema noted in the lower leg & around ankle region. Impression: 1) Incompetence of sapheno-femoral & ileo-femoral valves with reflux. 2) Dilated long saphenous vein with varicose veins in the upper part of leg region medially, anteriorly, laterally with one incompetent perforator medially. 3) Subcutaneous oedema in the lower leg, around the ankle region & inguinal lymphadenopathy (s/o cellulitis). Please advise whether Laser Treatment is possible?

A:The patient does have varicose veins. The scan shows there is not only Sapheno-femoral incompetence but also deep venous incompetence as demonstrated by valvular incompetence in the Ileo-femoral segment, also that the patient has oedema may be an indication of the chronic venous hypertension. As there is no evidence of Deep Vein Thrombosis or occlusion of the deep veins, there does not seem to be any contraindication to having Laser treatment done for the varicose veins. I assume the Laser treatment is Laser ablation of the Long Saphenous Vein. However, you may have the persistence of symptoms or recurrence of varicose veins, this being the result of deep venous disease and chronic venous hypertension.