The historical course of varicose vein surgery in the Persian medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Dawali (varicose veins) is the disease of chronic dilation of veins. The veins of the legs become dilated and blue due to excessive accumulation of blood. This disease and the effort to identify and treat it has a very long history. The condition may have first been described in the Ebers Papyrus more than 3500 years ago. The present study deals with the turning points and progress of varicose vein surgery since ancient times, emphasizing the innovations of the scholars of the Islamic period.

Methods

The present study is based on searching library documents and database data such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and search engines such as Google Scholar. In the end, the Prisma flow chart was drawn.

Results

Besides diagnosing different varicose veins (legs, thighs, abdomen, uterus, and testes), the scholars of the Islamic period were well-versed in their prevention, etiology, and treatment. In treating varicose veins, these physicians used methods such as cleansing, phlebotomy, compression, leech therapy, and surgery, and some of them were the founders of new treatments.

Conclusion

The surgical treatment of varicose veins in the past was similar to modern surgical therapies. What distinguishes yesterday’s varicose vein surgery from today’s surgery is a more advanced tool. There is no denying the remarkable progress in using health principles, treatment techniques, and surgical instruments to facilitate surgery and reduce the disease’s complications and recurrence. However, the treatment framework and foundation, such as phlebectomy and compression, were all invented and introduced in the distant past.

Keywords:

• Varicose veins
• Dawali
• Albucasis
• Persian medicine

Acknowledgment

We thank the clerk of the central library of Arak University of medical sciences and the staff of the informatics center of Arak University of medical sciences.

Author contributions

Khosravi, Asadi, and Changizi-Ashtiyani have full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data accuracy. Study concept and design: All authors. Acquisition and interpretation of data: Van Hee and Changizi-Ashtiyani. Drafting of the manuscript: All authors. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors. Administrative, technical, or material support: All authors. Study supervision: Changizi-Ashtiyani.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.