Botched Trivex surgery
I underwent surgery using the Trivex system after many sessions of unsuccessful sclerotherapy. I found the doctor and "new" procedure in an article in my local newspaper. The procedure seemed perfect for me -- minimally invasive, many less incisions, etc. The doctor seemed to think I was a good candidate for the procedure. I had inner lower thigh veins and veins protruding at my inner calf -- all on one leg. I couldn't find anything on the internet about Trivex at the time (February of 2002), but I was as eager as my doctor was to try it out. Well, my surgery was quick, out-patient. I felt pretty good those first two days or so, but I was on pain killers. When the bandages came off, I was startled to say the least. My leg was bruised from upper thigh to ankle, 4-5 inches wide. I only had four incisions though, so things seemed hopeful. Weeks after the surgery the bruised areas had receded, but were still very prominent in the areas I originally had the veins. But then I noticed something... my veins were still protruding. My legs are muscular and not fat at all, and upon closer inspection, I noticed that all the veins were still there and in addition, I had bruises which were still there 6 months after Trivex. Another complication was that I lost feeling in my calf all the way to my ankle. The doctor assured me the numbness would go away after 3 months or so, but here it is, 2 years later and I have permananent nerve damage. My leg doesn't even get goose bumps there and feels like I've had a shot of Novacaine. Anyway, I had simple outpatient "excision" performed after it was apparent the Trivex was a failure, but that was after undergoing more painful sclerotherapy which the Trivex surgeon thought would help. I wished I would have been able to read more personal stories (of success or failure) with different methods. I found this website today and thought I'd add my story. I hope potential patients of vein surgery make sound decisions based on all the info they can gather. I would have been perfectly happy with the procedure excision (maybe called ambulatroy phlebectomy) I had in August of 2002. It was a MUCH quicker recovery and very successful. I had 6 incisions from that surgery but they are tiny and have healed nicely. But I would have been happier with having only 6 compared to the 10 I now have and the hell I went through. Good luck to all of you.
From:
J. K.
