Vascular Surgery in Germany
The angiology centres and departments that work with msp group germany are certified centres of vascular medicine, working in close cooperation with neuroradiologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, diabetologists, rheumatologists and endocrinologists.
After a thorough diagnostic work-up of the disease, angiologists recommend either conservative or surgical treatment; when invasive methods are chosen, preference is given to minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Strict quality control is in place in German angiology departments and centres, so diagnosis and treatment meet the highest international medical quality standards.
The latest diagnostic methods include, for example, functional testing with Doppler ultrasound, treadmill ergometry, oscillography to measure pulsatile volume changes, and capillary microscopy where inflammatory or spastic cardiovascular disease is suspected. If ultrasound proves inconclusive, cross-sectional imaging and angiography are used.
If conservative therapy, minimally invasive interventions (catheter procedures) or surgery do not achieve the desired result, angiologists use regenerative vascular therapy as part of clinical trials to treat, for example, obliterative atherosclerosis of the peripheral arteries or circulatory disorders of the feet. The aim of this innovative stem cell therapy is to stimulate the formation of new vessels that bypass the thrombi (so-called biological bypass).
The vascular surgery departments and centres recommended by msp group germany offer a wide range of minimally invasive phlebological operations, which makes it possible to achieve an optimal result — both therapeutic and cosmetic — and to shorten the recovery period.
Compression microsclerotherapy
Microsclerotherapy is widely used to remove reticular veins and spider veins, the so-called telangiectasias, on the legs. A sclerosing agent that seals varicose veins is injected into the lumen of the dilated vein, closing it off from the venous circulation, after which it is resorbed.
Percutaneous laser coagulation (PLC)
The method is used to treat small spider veins — telangiectasias. The laser beam safely removes the vessel with a minimum of pain. No compression stockings are required after the procedure.
FOAM sclerotherapy (foam sclero-obliteration) of varicose veins under ultrasound guidance (UGFS)
Ultrasound-guided FOAM sclerotherapy of the saphenous veins (echo-sclerotherapy) is an innovative, well-established non-surgical treatment for varicose veins and an excellent alternative to conventional varicose vein surgery. The method involves injecting a sclerosing foam into the varicose vein, which causes the vein to close and then be resorbed. It is often used as part of the staged combined treatment of varicose vein disease.
- the procedure takes approx. 15 minutes;
- minimal pain;
- no scars or marks;
- rapid recovery after the sclerotherapy procedure;
- high efficacy — up to 96%.
Radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins (Covidien Closure Fast™ Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation Catheter) and VNUS Closure FAST radiofrequency obliteration:
This technique is the newest alternative to conventional surgery for varicose veins. Its principle is the obliterating effect of high-frequency current on the inner wall of the vein: heating causes the vein to close and it is then resorbed. With RFO there is virtually no postoperative pain, which allows the technique to be used in older patients and in those with severe concomitant diseases. Patients usually need less than one day to recover and do not need to take painkillers. The method is also used in the combined treatment of varicose trophic ulcers; the efficacy of the procedure is up to 82%.
Open phlebectomy of varicose veins with a cosmetic effect (Minimally Invasive Ambulatory Phlebectomy):
- the operation takes 90 minutes;
- minimal pain (spinal or intravenous anaesthesia);
- inconspicuous scars (incisions closed with the finest cosmetic sutures, or sutureless fixation of the wound edges with steri-strips/a special plaster;
- the option of combined treatment (phlebectomy + sclerotherapy + RFA, phlebectomy + ligation of the perforating veins + RFA;
- rapid recovery after surgery (one day in hospital);
- efficacy of the combined operation — 100%.