Rising cases of varicose veins disease among the elderly worry experts

KAMPALA | VARICOSE VEINS | FREE SURGERY | CASE HOSPITAL

Over 100 patients with varicose veins have undergone vascular surgery during a one-week free cardiothoracic vascular surgery awareness camp at Case Hospital on Buganda Road in Kampala since Monday.   

According to Dr. Ben Youssef, a vascular surgeon at Case Hospital, endovascular surgery is an innovative, less invasive procedure used to treat problems affecting the blood vessels, such as swelling or "ballooning" of the blood vessel. 

A patient suffering from Varicose Veins disease attending treatment at Case Hospital during a medical camp on wednesday.

“The surgery involves making a small incision near each hip to access the blood vessels. This medical camp is aimed at avoiding varicose veins disease getting worse, especially among women of reproductive age and the elderly,” he said. 

Youssef revealed this to journalists on Wednesday (April 26) at the facility while operating on patients that have suffered from the disease for many years without their knowledge. 

“Lumpy, twisted veins can give you a lot of grief, making your legs heavy and painful. But simple things like keeping your feet elevated, exercising, and wearing comfortable shoes and clothes can help varicose veins better,” he disclosed. 

Varicose veins form when valves that open to let the blood flow into the heart become damaged or weak, causing blood to flow backward, he said. 

Dr. Ben Youssef, a vascular surgeon at Case Hospital explaining to Journalist after the operation.

Youssef added that blood that clots as a result pools in the veins, causing them to become swollen and twisted. 

Milly Najjemba, a victim who was operated on using a cardiac catheterization machine said that the condition started slowly but soon developed itching and burning, swelling, heavy legs, and repeated pains.

“I suffered until I heard adverts that Case Clinic launched an awareness campaign against the condition of getting my way in the theatre for help,” she revealed. 

Dr. Dick Dauson Kecha said that the facility shall be conducting monthly free campaigns to fight the rising cases, especially in Kampala where there are poor nutrition practices. 

“Eating junk foods and refined and packed foods from supermarkets and other outlets can increase the risk because such foods have little fiber content,” he said. 

Dr. Dick Dauson Kecha addressing the press on the endovascular surgery of Varicose Veins disease.

The only way to address this condition is to attend regular medical check-ups, especially for soldiers and police who stand for a very long time, office workers who sit for more than ten hours, and old people who do not exercise a lot, he added. 

At Case Clinic, the whole treatment takes sh6m but when referred to India or other foreign nations, close to sh16m can be charged to operate on the patient suffering from the condition. 

Kecha said that in every 100 people, 10 people were found to be positive for the condition and he said Ugandans are lax when it comes to getting frequent check-ups, which leaves them at risk of suffering from hypertension and cancer. 

The medical camp ends on Saturday.