[Diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins: part 2: therapeutic procedures and results].

This is the second of two articles on the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins. Primary varicosis is a congenital degenerative disease of the peripheral venous system of the lower extremities. Treatment is carried out according to an individualized concept which takes the incurability and progression of the disease into consideration. Conservative treatment with compression bandages is an option for all forms of varicosis and the accompanying complications. Veins can be specifically ablated by sclerotherapy of varices. In addition to high ligation and stripping mini-phlebectomy and subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) can also be performed. The indications in cases of SEPS should be extremely limited because of possible severe complications. Radiofrequency ablation (RFO) and endovenous laser therapy (ELT) are also available as endovenous therapy options. Information in the literature on recurrence rates of the various procedures is extremely variable and the reasons for recurrent varicosis are the subject of controversy. The data relating to the results of RFO and ELT are relatively good and both procedures show a significant improvement in quality of life and the venous clinical severity score (VCSS).