Current Advances in Minimally Invasive Ambulatory Phlebectomy Transiluminated Powered Phlebectomy June 2001 A Reliable and Effective Alternative for Treatment of Varicose Veins About Varicose Veins Your veins are an important part of your vascular system. After arteries deliver blood to all extremities, your veins channel blood back to the heart using one-way walves.When these walves don't open and close properly, blood can gather in the veins. The veins become enlarged and are called varicose, a medical term meaning enlarged. Spider veins are smaller enlarged veins on the surface of the skin that are red, blue or purple. Varicose veins can be more than unsightly. They are often a cause of leg pain as well. Symptoms can conclude feelings of fatigue, heaviness, aching, burning, throbbing, itching, cramping and restleness of the legs. Severe varicose veins can compromise the nutrition of the skin and lead toeczema, inflamation or even ulceration of the lower leg. It is estimated that up to 25% of women and 15% of men suffer from some form of venous disorder. How Are Veins Treated? Generally, there are two options: conservative measures such as compression stockings, or corrective measures such as surgery, sclerotherapy or laser treatment to remove the veins. In many cases, a combination of treatment methods may work best. What is Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy? Transilluminated phlebectomy is a patened, clinically tested surgical technique for varicose vein removal. "Transilluminated"refers to the passing of light through the skin and "phlebetomy"is the medical term for vein removal. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the vein using a small powered surgical blade while viewing the vein using a transilluminating light. Clinical studies suggest that this method enables the surgeon to remove veins using a minimal number of 2mm incisions and shorter operative time, which may result in an easier recovery for the patient with better cosmetic results.