The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-10-18
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While various theories for the un-
DERIVING cause of varieose veins have
been proposed, it must be conceded
that mechanical factors play the lead
ing role in their production. This is
substantiated both by their usual loea-
ton and the changes the veins have
undergone.
What Are Yaricose Veins?
A vein is said to be varieosed when
it is dilated, its wall thichened, its
course winding, and its valves incom-
petent. As consequence of these
changes veins that normally are
scarcely visible and palpable, become
easily seen and felt.
The circulation in varicose veins is
sluggish because of the tortuous path
the blood has to follow, the lack of
tone of the vessel walls and the i'm
perfect functioning of their valves.
As a result Of the stagnant venous
blood stream the circulation as a
whole is slowed down, and different
effects of an insufficient blood supply
make themselves manifest.
Causes of Varicose Veins
The commonest cause is faulty pos
ture-being in the upright position
most Of the time. This is proven in
the legs-never in the arms. Pres
sure also plays a big part. Hemor-
rhoids 4(Piles) occur principally in
people who are sitting most of the
day. Varicose veins of the legs de-
velop in persons who spend most of
the time on their feet.
Obviously anything that tends to
retard the circulation inthe veins will
produce engagement and stretching,
which finally become permanent.
Wearing tight carriers is an illustra-
ton. More remote causes are large
abdominal tumors and insufficiency Of
the heart.
The unfavorable (from an anatomic
standpoint) situation Of the surface
veins of the leg makes them espe-
cially liable to varicosities. They are
located at the terminus Of the system
where the force of the heart action
has practically expended itself They
bear the weight of the entire column
of blood and the resistance to the
blood flow within them is greater than
it is higher up. They lack the support
of any surrounding muscles and the
assistance of the movements Of such
muscles in the propulsion of the
blood. Finally, they are supplied
with fewer valves than the deeper
veins.
How Varicose Veins Are Treated
For many years the foremost pal
liative measures have been elevation
of the limb with the patient in bed,
or the use of bandages or rubber
stockings by the patient compelled to
be on his feet. However, the best
measure for varicose veins as well as
their complications-eczema and ul-
cers-is Unna's paste-boot.
Operative measures should be I'M
dertaken whenever surgery is not
contra-indicated by heart or kidney
disease, obstruction in the deeper
veins, pregnancy, or pelvic tumor.
They offer the only certain and last
ing cure.
Trendelenburg's method is best
when there is no involvement of the
deep veins. 1t consists in tying and
cutting out section of the main vein
at point just external to the open
ing through which the vein enters the
deeper parts of the thigh.
Babcock's method is best where the
branches between the SUI
perficial and deep veins are also vari-
cosed. This procedure consists in the
passage of a sound into the vein, ty-
ing the latter to the vein and strip
ping the section of vein out under
the skin.
The so-called injection method is
finding increasing favor among many
surgeons. The only objection to it
is the possibility of producing plug
ging of the pulmonary (lung) vessels
which is always fatal. This accident
cannot be regarded as contra-indi-
cation to the operation inasmuch as
it occurred only four times in $4,000
such operations.