Precautions Against Infections
Infections are a dreaded complication of surgery. Fortunately, modern vein procedures are relatively non invasive and so the risk of infection is very low indeed. Nevertheless, I take the risk of infection very seriously and my team and I regularly update our infection control protocols.
In the last 12 years we have not had a single infection after endovenous thermal procedures for varicose veins. In this video, I will show you the precautions we take against infection.
“We are just about to start an endo-venous laser procedure and I am making sure that I am scrubbed up. Myself and the scrub nurse – we wash our hands very thoroughly with antiseptic solutions – a so called “scrub” and we do this as a “sterile procedure” so both myself and Pam will be gowned, and we have theatre gowns on and they are sterile and they cover us completely and we are also wearing sterile gloves. We will then very shortly clean the leg of the patient who is going to have endovenous laser with an antiseptic solution. We use an aqueous solution as opposed to an alcoholic solution – two reasons – firstly it is more comfortable for the patient. We can warm the solution safely so that when we apply it to the leg the patient is not uncomfortable. And the second reason is that alcoholic solutions are flammable so there is a potential risk there that we can avoid with aqueous or water based antiseptic solutions. Another reason of course is that – particularly in the groin area – alcoholic solutions can be very uncomfortable, very stingy. So we prefer at the VeinCare Centre to use aqueous solutions which have been warmed – the patient’s comfort is paramount – it is a very effective antiseptic. Over the last 12 years of doing procedures under local anaesthetic and using that solution we have had no infections. We take infections very seriously and we scrub thoroughly and don theatre gowns and sterile gloves. Pam has already scrubbed and draped. She has prepared the trolley in advance of my coming into the treatment room and she has also very kindly opened the disposable gown and gloves for me. I am thoroughly drying my hands now before I put the gown on. This is all disposable single use gowns and gloves so they are “thrown away” at the end of the procedure. Jane is going to tie me up at the back. A lot of specialists don’t feel that it is necessary to put a theatre gown on and gloves – we do! I have a surgical background – I am a vascular surgeon – and I am used to doing procedures with gown and gloves on. Is it necessary? There is debate but I think that every precaution you can take to avoid infections is worth taking – even if perhaps it is a little excessive! So we are going to clean the patient’s leg now and when we next appear in the video we will start the procedure with the patient cleaned draped and a nice “sterile field” where we can conduct the procedure in an aseptic sterile manner without the risk of infection.”
Contact me today for a confidential chat
If you’re worried about your veins and would like a confidential chat please do get in touch. I am happy to offer simple advice by telephone or email for free and without obligation.
The VeinCare Centre also offers a screening assessment with our vascular technologist. For £25 you can have a scan with Wendy Parsons. She is not a doctor and so she could not give you medical advice but she can check your deep veins and your varicose veins and give you an idea of how bad they are and whether laser might be suitable for you. If you would like to have an appointment with Wendy please call 01935 873 951