Is it normal to have a blood clot and pain in GSV four months post venous ablation?

I was diagnosed with stage 2 venous insufficiency of the left leg. The cardiologist performed ablation of GSV in mid June 2017. I presented to local ER the next day with cellulitis, elevated D-Dimer and the ultrasound showed a superficial clot in GSV. I missed a week of work, have used compression hose, and had 3 follow ups with the cardiologist. I have constant pain and weakness in the left leg. I had two US this week at different facilities and the clot is still in the distal saphenous.

Answers from doctors (2)


Medilaser, Cosmetic Surgery and Vein Center

Published on Oct 23, 2017

What kind of ablation did you have? If it was done with laser, probably your symptoms are related to "colleteral damage" due to heat transfer to tissues surrouinding the vein in question. Most of the time, these symptoms resolve within months.
The emergency room visit the next day after the procedure, probably misdiagnosed you with cellulitis which is a form of skin infection and usually manifests itself several days after surgery.
The clot in the treated saphenous vein is expected and requires no further intervention.

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Answered by Medilaser, Cosmetic Surgery and Vein Center

What kind of ablation did you have? If it was done with laser, probably your symptoms are related to "colleteral damage" due to heat transfer to tissues surrouinding the vein in question. Most of the time, these symptoms resolve within months.
The emergency room visit the next day after the procedure, probably misdiagnosed you with cellulitis which is a form of skin infection and usually manifests itself several days after surgery.
The clot in the treated saphenous vein is expected and requires no further intervention.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Oct 20, 2017

When the GSV is a ablated it is essentially clotted/sealed off. It isn’t unusual to get inflammation especially in the more tender upper thigh due to the laser and injections of local anesthetic. The D-dimer can be elevated. If there is a larger vein present it can be more inflamed. This is not cellulitis and only requires cold packs, massage with a cream such as Dermaka, ibuprofen and hose. It will take time for the body to absorb the inflammation and vein. However the constant pain and weakness is unusual after this amount of time. Perhaps a second opinion may give you some answers. It may/may not be related.

//imgs-origin.edoctors.com/imageresizer/image/user_uploads/58x58_85-1/doctors/623_1499902138.jpg
Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

When the GSV is a ablated it is essentially clotted/sealed off. It isn’t unusual to get inflammation especially in the more tender upper thigh due to the laser and injections of local anesthetic. The D-dimer can be elevated. If there is a larger vein present it can be more inflamed. This is not cellulitis and only requires cold packs, massage with a cream such as Dermaka, ibuprofen and hose. It will take time for the body to absorb the inflammation and vein. However the constant pain and weakness is unusual after this amount of time. Perhaps a second opinion may give you some answers. It may/may not be related.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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