VARICOSE VEINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5371, 7 January 1929, Page 2

VARICOSE VEINS.

THE NEW TREATMENT.

A MEDICAL OPINION. The claim has been made in London that varicose veins, can be cured by a local injection, excepting in the most advanced cases, but there would appear to be; a divergence of medical opinion on the matter. The basis of the treatment is to produce a condition of blood-clotting and. inflammation, eventually blacking the troublesome blood vessel, and is re-, portefd to be popular.

“This method of treatment Jias been applied With various degrees of suc,cess, and has not been exactly popular in some cases,” commented Mr J■Miller, a Palmerston North specialist, to a Manawatu Standard representative when approached on the subject. “To my mind,” he said, “ithe claim made appears to bq an exaggeration. The treatment is said to. be painless, and may be at the time of the injec,tilon, though I doubt very much if pain will be absent subsequently, as ithq process would be inflammatory in reaction. It is really an imitation of Nature’s way of curing a varicose Mein, and the method has been tried in several of the larger .centres in New Zealand, though no reports are available.

“The clotting cannot really be limited to one particular region of the body, and may manifest itself, ip a dangerous form,” added Mr Miller. “Anyone who has a large number of varicose - vejins should submit to. an operation, which is really the safer and better method. Several injections might be required to isolate the seat of the “From the medical point of view there are certain risk's, Associated with, the treatment by injection, but anything which renders unnecessary a general anaesthetic undoubtedly would appeal.

“The treatment of varicose veins by injection is new to the general public, and owes its popularity to the fact that it removes the necessity for a skin incision and the administration of an anaesthetic, to both of which everyone has a natural avqrsion. CLAIMS OVER-SANGUINE. “The claims made in articles appearing recently in the Press are, ho.wever, somewhat misleading and over-sanguine, as is, not unusual rqgarejing untried measures. The method is not as painless as it is reputed to be, owing to the frequency of inflammatory reaction following, the injection, especially where the limb is not given rest. Nor is one injection sufficient, save in mild cases. “Owing ,to the impossibility of limiting the area of rteaction to the vein treated there i's. a distinct risk of sprqad of clotting to healthy veins. This is undesirable, and may be dangerous. In my opinion treatment by injection is indicated where the trouble is not extensive, but should be used with caution in advaheqd cases. Nor c,an injection supplant the scientific exactitude of operation.”