Varicose vein surgery

MODEL RELEASED. Varicose vein surgery. Surgical team carrying out an operation to remove varicose veins from a patient's legs. Varicose veins form due to defective valves in veins, usually those of the legs. As blood is circulated around the legs, these valves prevent it from sinking to the feet. As the valves stop working, blood pools downwards, distending the veins. Surgical removal is carried out in severe cases, allowing the blood to flow through other veins instead. Here, the patient has been anaesthetised. Powerful overhead lights give a clear view of the area being operated on, and the surgical team are wearing sterile clothing to help prevent infection of the patient. Electrical wires supply power to the cauterising tools used to minimise bleeding. Photographed in the UK.