Half of Americans over 50 have varicose or enlarged veins, reports the National Institutes of Health. Weakened valves in the legs allow blood to back up in the blood vessels, causing swollen veins, aching pain, cramps, itching and restless legs. Risk factors include age, hormonal changes, obesity, pregnancy, sitting or standing for long periods and family history. Surgical treatment may include vein ligation and stripping or ambulatory phlebectomy. Less-invasive procedures involve injecting a chemical into the vein--sclerotherapy--or using laser or radio-frequency to close the vein.
Anesthesia Risks
Although varicose vein procedures are generally safe, any patient undergoing a procedure that requires general anesthesia is at risk of developing certain complications, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. General anesthesia can cause breathing and heart problems, as well as an allergic reaction in some patients.
Bleeding or Clots
Chemical injections--sclerotherapy--can cause minor inflammation where blood is trapped in a vein during the procedure, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Blood clots that can travel to the lungs and heart may form when deeper veins are sclerosed or stripped. Administering heparin can reduce the risk of clots but more bruising will occur when heparin is used.
Pain or Numbness
Leg pain is the most common side effect of surgical vein ligation and stripping, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Pain is also common after laser treatment, so physicians generally apply a gel designed to cool and anesthetize the affected area. Sometimes nerves close to the affected vein are damaged, causing numbness or burning, the department notes.
Changes in Skin Appearance
Surgical ligation and stripping can produce permanent scars, but the less invasive techniques rarely cause more than temporary skin discoloration, according to a report by Dr. John R. Bartholomew published in the March 2005 issue of the "Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine." Ambulatory phlebectomy, which uses hooks to pull the varicose vein out of the leg, may leave small scars or cause some temporary bruising or changes in pigmentation. Laser therapy can cause temporary redness or swelling that resolves in a few days and discolorations that return to normal within one to two months, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Recurrence
Although the success rate for varicose treatment is 70 to 90 percent, patients may develop varicosities in other veins because of weak valves, according to Dr. Bartholomew. Wearing support hose during the day can help prevent or delay the need for repeat treatment.
