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Varicose veins
Can varicocele heal itself?
Varicocele generally cannot be cured, and most patients with varicocele do not have any symptoms and only discover their condition during physical examinations. Such patients can temporarily be under observation, but they should regularly have their varicocele rechecked and also have their semen quality tested. If there are abnormalities in semen quality, timely surgical treatment is necessary. Clinically, a small number of varicocele patients exhibit significant symptoms, typically presenting as discomfort and pain on the affected side of the scrotum, especially after long periods of walking or standing, with pain becoming more pronounced. In such cases, prompt surgical intervention is generally necessary, and surgery can also improve the quality of the patient's semen.
What are the effects of secondary surgery for varicose veins?
If varicose veins recur, we need to carefully investigate the cause of the recurrence and rule out problems in the deep venous system. If there is an obstruction in the deep veins, recurrence can occur quickly even after secondary surgery on the superficial veins. If the deep veins are only involved in venous reflux, surgery can still be performed, but it is hoped that medical compression stockings will be worn for a period of time after surgery. Otherwise, there is still a possibility of recurrence after the secondary surgery.
Is vein varicose treatment better with injections or surgery?
Venous sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing agent and is a relatively good and minimally invasive treatment method. Its advantages include being minimally invasive and even suitable for outpatient surgery, with low costs. However, there are drawbacks; one is that the medication might enter the deep veins, causing deep vein thrombosis. If the dosage is too large, it could reach the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism. Additionally, the medication might seep into surrounding tissues, causing inflammatory reactions. Some patients may experience temporary hyperpigmentation. Surgical treatment is a more traditional method, but it depends on the specific situation. Generally, it causes more trauma than sclerotherapy and usually requires some level of anesthesia. Surgery entails a certain amount of blood loss, and like other methods, it cannot prevent recurrence.
How to treat varicose veins stage II?
If you're referring to the second stage of varicose veins, I'm not sure if you mean the clinical manifestation stage two, or if it's a recurrence after one surgery. Let's first talk about stage two varicose veins, which means there are visible and tortuous vein clumps. There are several main treatment methods for this condition: First, conservative treatment, which involves wearing medical compression stockings. If symptoms include soreness, heaviness, or cramping, some medications can be taken orally. Then, if there is a desire for surgical treatment, options like vein stripping, radiofrequency, or laser treatments are available. Some may involve sclerotherapy or another method called venous angle keratin treatment, specifically for stage two varicose veins. If it's a recurrence of varicose veins, we need to assess the specific situation. Some people might have had previous endovenous closure surgeries, and their veins are still present. In such cases, we can choose to redo the closure or opt for surgery to remove them. Another scenario is if the varicose veins have recurred after surgery. We need to investigate the cause. Some people might have iliac vein stenosis, and in such cases, treatment targeted at the iliac vein is necessary.
Symptoms of varicocele in the right spermatic cord
If it is a mild varicocele, most patients have no discomfort symptoms and it is not easily detected. If the varicocele reaches a moderate or even severe level, the patient may experience a sensation of dragging pain in the right testicle and a lax scrotum, especially after long periods of sitting, standing, or intense exercise. The pain and dragging sensation in the testicle will become more pronounced. However, the symptoms will gradually ease after lying down and resting. If varicocele persists for a long time, it can lead to a decline in sperm quality, causing male infertility, and can even result in testicular atrophy. If the above symptoms are present, it is necessary to promptly go to the hospital for an ultrasound examination to determine the diameter of the spermatic vein. A routine semen analysis may be necessary if there is a decline in semen quality. If needed, surgery may be required for treatment.
What are the symptoms of varicocele?
The symptoms of varicocele vary depending on the severity of the patient's condition. Clinically, most varicocele patients have no obvious symptoms or no symptoms at all, and varicocele is often discovered during physical examinations. A small percentage of varicocele patients exhibit noticeable symptoms. The primary symptom is a feeling of heaviness or discomfort in the testicles, especially after prolonged walking or standing. The pain becomes more pronounced, but it will decrease or even disappear after lying down and resting. Some varicocele patients may not show symptoms but present with infertility. Varicocele is then discovered through physical examinations or related medical tests.
Treatment methods for gastric varices
Gastric varices primarily refer to varices at the stomach base, often occurring in diseases characterized by portal hypertension associated with liver cirrhosis and as a complication of these gastric varices. For treating varices at the stomach base, if continuous hematemesis or vomiting blood occurs, there are several treatment options: The first is the injection of a sclerosing agent, which can achieve the purpose of hemostasis. Additionally, endoscopic ligation treatment can be considered. This method is very effective in preventing the rupture and bleeding of gastric varices. However, it is crucial to assess the overall status of the patient and determine whether liver cirrhosis can be prevented or treated.
Can bilateral varicocele be cured?
After the occurrence of varicocele, some patients may experience a feeling of heaviness and pain in the scrotum, which is often more apparent after prolonged standing, sitting, or intense exercise, and gradually alleviates after lying down and resting. During physical examination, tortuous veins similar to earthworms can be felt inside the scrotum. A color Doppler ultrasound examination is needed for further clarification. For bilateral varicoceles, it is currently curable. The main treatment method is surgical intervention, such as laparoscopic high ligation of the spermatic veins on both sides. This surgical approach is a minimally invasive procedure and the surgical outcomes are quite definite. Generally, a recovery period of 3-6 months after surgery is expected before complete recovery.
Causes of varicocele
There are several causes of varicocele, including congenital factors and secondary causes. Congenital causes are mainly seen in cases of incomplete development of venous valves, while secondary causes may result from prolonged sitting, standing, or intense exercise over time. Some patients develop varicocele due to kidney tumors or blood clots in renal veins, which obstruct the blood flow returning through the spermatic vein. Patients with severe varicocele may experience a sensation of heaviness and pain in the testicles. In treating varicocele, it is also important to understand the reasons behind it. If it is caused by a tumor, active treatment of the tumor is necessary.
What happens if varicose veins worsen?
Varicose veins, when they worsen, can lead to changes in the skin, including thickening of the skin which feels woody to the touch. Additionally, the skin may exhibit pigmentation that can be severe enough to resemble the black color of a belt. More seriously, ulcers can develop, typically near the inner ankle, though they occasionally appear in other locations. These ulcers are referred to medically as “boot ulcers” and are commonly known among the general population as “continuous sore legs.” In extreme cases, these ulcers may persist for many years without healing and could potentially become malignant.