Who is a phlebologist? What does this doctor treat? Not everyone has heard of such a mysterious medical profession. People usually learn about it only after they have been given a diagnosis that is within the competence of such a specialist and sent for treatment directly to him. Despite the fact that phlebological diseases are not uncommon, it is very difficult to find doctors of this specialization in a regular clinic.
What is phlebology and who is a phlebologist?
Phlebology is a medical branch that studies not only the functions and structure of veins, but also develops methods for the treatment of venous diseases, their diagnosis and preventive measures. This is a special area in vascular surgery, which mainly specializes in the veins located in the lower extremities. In recent years, phlebology has been developing with particular intensity. The fact is that the modern rhythm of life, ecology, stress, bad habits, overwork often cause exacerbation of many diseases, including vascular ones. Just a few decades ago about someof them didn't even know. New diagnostic methods and careful study have given more opportunities to doctors, including a phlebologist. What does this unknown doctor treat? This is a specialist who deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of vascular diseases of the lower extremities.
History of phlebology
The existence of vein diseases has been known since ancient Egypt. Repeatedly, researchers noticed external signs of varicose veins when examining excavated mummies. In addition, there was evidence that the Egyptians developed methods for treating this pathology. Also, confirmation of its existence was recorded in the works of the ancient medical scientists Hippocrates and Avicenna.
Trendelenburg managed to find the cause of varicose veins only in the 19th century. According to his observations, this deviation is due to a violation of blood circulation in the veins. In a he althy person, the process occurs in such a way that blood flows from the saphenous veins to the femoral. In the case of pathology, a reverse outflow occurs, due to which the veins overflow, and varicose veins form. Then the only effective solution to the problem was proposed - the removal of the great saphenous vein, its intersection or ligation. At the beginning of the 20th century, several similar surgical interventions were carried out, but not all of them ended positively. Gradually, doctors were able to develop techniques to minimize the trauma of operations.
When the X-ray machine came along, doctors were more able to examine vein diseases. For thisa contrast agent was injected into them and a picture was taken, according to which the complexity, nature and specific location of the disease were assessed. An important role in the study of phlebological abnormalities belongs to domestic doctors: Reinberg, Askerkhanov, Filatov, Krakovsky and Bakulev.
A little later, an innovative diagnostic method appeared in medical practice, which everyone knows under the name of ultrasound. Thanks to him, it became possible to study not only the pathology itself, but also the general topography of the vessels of patients, including fixing the speed and direction of blood flow in the veins. This diagnosis significantly reduced the number of operations, which were replaced by pharmacological and more conservative treatment. It is called sclerotherapy and consists in the internal effect on blood vessels through special medications
The most common vascular diseases
So, we figured out who a phlebologist is. What does this specialist specifically treat? The most common vein diseases include varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, and spider veins. It is with such pathologies that most often have to be encountered in practice. A little less often they turn to phlebologists with trophic ulcers, phlebopathy and venous insufficiency.
Symptoms of leg vein disease
When is it necessary to contact a phlebologist? Treatment of varicose veins, treatment of thrombophlebitis is his main specialization. But it is better not to wait for the development of pathology and complications associated with it. Noticing the firstsymptoms, it is necessary to consult a doctor to prevent the development of a chronic disease. Signs that should alert patients are not always obvious, and many do not take them seriously enough, triggering the disease and thus complicating its further treatment.
Noticing protruding veins on the legs of a purple or blue hue, dark pigmentation on the skin around the ankles or legs, sores in the joints, you should immediately visit a specialist. Less suspicious symptoms, such as pain, swelling, or occasional leg cramps, should also not be attributed to fatigue or overexertion. They may indicate serious problems are approaching.
Modern diagnostics
Diagnosis of the condition of the veins necessarily includes ultrasound dopplerography or angioscanning. If necessary, you will also need to undergo a duplex vein scan, phlebography or phlebomanometry. At the appointment, the doctor will certainly palpate the affected areas and examine the visible nature of the pathological changes. There are also several analyzes to be done. Which ones are needed is determined by the attending physician. In vascular diseases, partial thromboplast or thrombin time, blood coagulation rate, fibrinogen, prothrombin index and others can be checked.
Treatment of blood vessels in the legs
How and what a phlebologist treats is probably of interest to people who are faced with pathological abnormalities associated with veins. For treatment, modern medicine can offer conservative and surgicalmethods. It is possible that for this reason, many do not know exactly who can help them: a phlebologist or a surgeon, which doctor treats varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
Conservative methods include medication, compression, sclerotherapy and phytotherapy. Surgical intervention is required in cases where therapeutic measures cannot cope with the disease. Then surgeons perform a flekbetomy, remove the trunk of a large vein under the skin, eliminate blood reflux, or resort to deep vein plastic surgery. Varicose veins have several stages of development, which determine the speed and complexity of treatment.
Sclerotherapy in the treatment of vein diseases at the first stage
At the initial stage, the disease affects only small vessels, not spreading to the main trunks. In such a situation, the doctor is likely to insist on sclerotherapy. It has several varieties. So, microsclerotherapy is used to remove stars on the legs and small veins. It consists in the introduction of a special substance, a sclerosant, into the veins with the help of thin needles.
During microfoam sclerotherapy, the same substance is injected as a foam. This method is effective even in the treatment of pathologies of thick veins and the presence of varicose veins. Ozone sclerotherapy involves the use of an ozone-oxygen mixture, which helps eliminate telangiostasis. Small vessels and stars can also be removed by using coagulation - thermal or laser. The latter is used even if it is necessary to remove the vessels onface and other parts of the body.
Phlebectomy as a treatment for vein diseases in the second stage
This option is recommended by a phlebologist in Kyiv or any other city for patients with the second stage of the disease. It differs from the first by the progressive destruction of the valvular apparatus of the veins, which are the main ones and are located under the skin. Classical phlebectomy is performed under general anesthesia on a stationary basis. Its essence lies in the removal of damaged veins through incisions in the groin and at the very bottom of the leg. Sometimes it is possible to avoid such an intervention by replacing it with radiofrequency ablation, laser coagulation or Varadi miniphlebectomy.
Treatment of veins in the third stage of the disease
The phlebologist determines the appropriateness of this or that method of treatment. What treats and what technique does a specialist usually recommend in the third stage of varicose veins? It is accompanied by a violation of venous blood flow, due to which trophic ulcers are formed on the legs. They can have different sizes and depths, which directly depends on the patient himself. The longer he put off seeing a specialist, the more difficult the pathological changes.
Also often the negligence of other doctors leads to the third stage, to which the patient has previously consulted, but did not receive effective treatment, losing precious time. Many phlebologists try to resort to conservative treatment and waiting tactics. This is necessary in order to heal the ulcers a little, relieve inflammation and reduce their volume. Only afterAfter that, they start operating using a combined phlebectomy.
Prevention of vascular diseases of the legs
For preventive purposes, people prone to diseases of the vessels of the lower extremities are advised to reduce the load on their legs. Do your homework in a seated position whenever possible. During rest, use a roller from a blanket or pillow, placed under straight legs. Not always, of course, but several times a day such respite for 15 minutes must be done. You will definitely need to exclude hot baths and forget about the Russian bath and the Finnish sauna. It is better to douse your feet with cool water, at least once a day. If there is excess weight, it is very desirable to say goodbye to it urgently. You should also avoid lifting heavy objects, wearing overly tight clothing and uncomfortable shoes. It is worth looking for special tights or stockings that are designed to fix the vessels and reduce the load on them.
In the workplace, you need to sit up straight, keeping your back straight, without throwing your legs over your legs. The best option is to use a low footstool or put them on the crossbar under the table, if there is one. Avoid swelling of the muscles, change the position of the legs from time to time, move them, rotate the feet and at least once every half an hour get up from a chair to walk a little and stretch. On vacation it is recommended to go to the sea. There, try to walk barefoot more on grass, pebbles or sand. If you have varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, venous insufficiency, ulcers, sunburn is absolutely contraindicated. More shade, less sun - now it's yourslaw. And get a vein firming cream or gel for daily use.
Visit to a phlebologist
In order for the treatment to bring quick results, to be as gentle and effective as possible, the choice of a specialist is very important. Since it is almost impossible to find it in an ordinary state clinic, a personal phlebologist will be required. A good phlebologist should be not only a theorist and therapist, but also a practicing surgeon. A competent consultation is the first step on the road to recovery.
What should a phlebologist be able to do? What this doctor treats has already been figured out, but how he does it, you also need to know. It is known that all organs in the human body are interconnected, therefore any disease cannot be limited to the treatment of only one of them, but must be complex. So, in case of vascular diseases, not only the venous system, but also others are under attack. In addition, the effectiveness of treatment to a greater extent lies not in the elimination of the consequences and manifestations, but also in the reasons for which the failure occurred. It is very important to trace this connection, find the source of the problem and eliminate it as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Most specialists in this field are vascular surgeons. Now that you already know a specialist phlebologist (who it is and what it treats, we wrote above), you need to learn in detail about the methods that a particular doctor uses in his practice. Therefore, it is better to immediately ask about this at the reception, to clarify according to what principles the treatment will be carried out, classical or surgical. Or maybehe is fluent in other innovative methods of treating varicose veins or uses non-traditional, experimental techniques of foreign colleagues. In any case, this can be determined only after a thorough diagnosis, taking into account the individuality of a particular case.
Myths of traditional medicine
To know who a phlebologist is, what he treats and by what methods, everyone needs to contact the address in case of problems with veins in the legs, without wasting time on useless wanderings around the offices of state clinics. It is worth remembering the seriousness of this problem and in no case self-medicate, and even more so do not use dubious folk remedies. There are many misconceptions about methods of dealing with diseases of the venous system. It is worth dispelling these myths, which thousands of people have already been tempted to, which only harmed themselves.
So, vascular diseases of the legs are not treated with hirudotherapy. Leeches thin the blood for a while, because its flow is accelerated. The patient may notice some relief and partial disappearance of the symptoms inherent in venous insufficiency. But this is a temporary phenomenon, because the cause is still not eliminated, and the disease returns again, only in an even more severe form.
Don't believe the advertising of supposedly miraculous drugs and the latest devices. If they existed, surely modern medicine would have already adopted these methods to get rid of the need for surgical operations. But they stillare carried out, and phlebology is in constant search for new effective means to alleviate the suffering of patients and simplify the work of doctors. All achievements are now actively practiced by specialists, and as soon as the next drug or device is invented, it will certainly appear in the arsenal of private clinics.
No cabbage leaf, plantain, infusions and decoctions, and even more so urine therapy, will not help heal diseased vessels, despite the beliefs of adherents of alternative medicine. While a person conducts such experiments on himself, varicose veins develop further, thrombophlebitis progresses, and spider veins on the legs grow. Only a good experienced phlebologist can help eliminate such ailments.
