Is vein stripping safe for a person with liver disease?

Dear Dr. Roach: I have liver disease (mild cirrhosis) and painful varicose veins. Is it safe to get vein stripping? — V.P.

Dear V.P.: The risk of an operation depends on the type of operation and the underlying medical condition of the patient. Liver disease is variable, and the risk reflects that. For people with mild liver disease, the risk is not much greater than a person with a healthy liver, whereas for people with severe disease, even a routine elective surgery can have a mortality risk of 50% or greater.

Procedures to treat varicose veins also range in the degree of risk. Your vein specialist should be able to recommend lower-risk procedures that can still give an excellent outcome, as long as your physician feels your liver is healthy enough.

Dear Dr. Roach: Iama 56-year-old female elementary teacher with underlying health issues. To receive the most effectiveness from the COVID-19 vaccine, should I receive this vaccine in June/ July so I am better protected to begin teaching in person in August? Or should I receive this vaccine right away? I will continue teaching online. — K.

Dear K.: I recommend getting the vaccine as soon as you can. Since you have underlying health issues, it’s very important to get protection as quickly as possible.

We do not know the duration of protection from the vaccines. The best information I have read suggests that the duration will be at least eight months. It will hopefully be longer, but it is possible booster shots will be required. Still, a vaccine should protect you well past the beginning of school, and by then we will have a better idea how much long-term protection there is.