Ludhiana News/Chronic Venous Disease on rise-Dr Harinder Singh Bedi

Ludhiana, November 25, 2013: Chronic Venous Disease (CVI) is a debilitating disorder which is often under-diagnosed and ignored. According to Dr Harinder Singh Bedi, Head, Cardio-Vascular and Thoracic surgery Department, Christian Medical College & Hospital – about 10-20 % of adults suffer from CVI. It is more prevalent in women 

This was stated by Dr Bedi at the recent Workshop on Recent Advances in Venous Disorders held at the Govt Medical College & Hospital in Chandigarh. Untreated CVI affects the quality of life, leads to complications like deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and non healing wounds. According to Dr Bedi, chronic venous disease is quite common in India as most of our population works in the standing position, leading to pressure on the veins which dilate. It is estimated that over a lakh die due to venous disease (DVT and PE) each year – which is the equivalent of the disappearance of a city the size of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

The disorder can be prevented to some extent by simple precautions like maintaining an optimal body weight, regular exercise etc. It can be diagnosed by simple non invasive test of Duplex scan. If detected early the progress can be slowed by compression stockings, weight control and graded exercise.

One of the advanced forms is varicose vein which means dilated visible tortous veins in the legs. The earlier surgery for this used to be open repair which entailed a long incision in the leg and a long hospital stay. . The conventional therapy of varicose veins is a major operation called stripping. It entails a long cut, pain, admission and a slow recovery. A revolutionary new technique called ‘Endovenous Thermal Ablation’ with a Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) machine has been introduced and perfected at the CMC&H. Dr Bedi explained that in this modality a fibre is inserted in the vein without a cut and the vein is treated. The patient can go home a few hours after the surgery. He demonstrated the surgical technique in the workshop to the distinguished surgeons from all over the region.

Dr Abraham G Thomas – Director of CMC & H – reiterated that CMC was committed to bringing the latest technology to the people of this region.