Ambulatory phlebectomy is a treatment for superficial varicose veins

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are veins that have become enlarged and tortuous. The term commonly refers to the veins on the leg, although varicose veins can occur elsewhere. Veins have leaflet valves to prevent blood from flowing backwards . Leg muscles pump the veins to return blood to the heart, against the...

. The procedure involves the removal of the varicose veins through small 2–3 mm incisions in the skin overlying the veins. The procedure may be performed in hospital or outpatient settings. The procedure may be performed with tumescent local anesthesia, such as with lidocaine.

Complications are uncommon, but include paresthesia

Paresthesia

Paresthesia , spelled "paraesthesia" in British English, is a sensation of tingling, burning, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect. It is more generally known as the feeling of "pins and needles" or of a limb "falling asleep"...

, bruising

Bruise

A bruise, also called a contusion, is a type of relatively minor hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Bruises can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle,...

, and hematoma

Hematoma

A hematoma, or haematoma, is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels, usually in liquid form within the tissue. This distinguishes it from an ecchymosis, which is the spread of blood under the skin in a thin layer, commonly called a bruise...

.

Graded compression stockings are usually worn for 1–2 weeks after the procedure. Patients usually return to normal light activity immediately after the procedure. This procedure is often used as an adjunct to endovenous laser treatment

Endovenous laser treatment

Endovenous laser treatment is a minimally invasive ultrasound-guided technique used for treating varicose veins using laser energy.-Methods:...

 or other endovenous ablations of the greater saphenous vein.