Varicose Veins
What are Varicose Veins?
Healthy veins have one-way valves to ensure blood flows in one direction toward the heart. When valves fail or leak, the blood flows backwards causing blood to pool in the veins. The increased pressure from the pooling stretches the vein, causing enlarged, twisted blood vessels creating. This creates the bumpy, rope-like veins called varicose veins.
Symptoms
Often, the skin surrounding the varicose veins itches and burns. If left untreated, varicose veins can lead to swelling, fatigue, throbbing or cramping, increased pain, skin discoloration, and ulcerations of the lower legs. Ulcerations are difficult to treat and can become easily infected and painful. Many of these symptoms can be prevented by early treatment.
It normally takes years for symptoms of varicose veins to develop. While varicose veins are commonly inherited, anyone can get them. Hormonal changes brought on by puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can trigger the onset of varicose veins.
Diagnosis
Vein disorders are not always visible; therefore, modern diagnostic techniques are important tools in determining the cause and severity of the problem. Depending on the results of the screening examination, your doctor may recommend additional tests such as diagnostic ultrasound to identify where and how badly your veins are damaged. The ultrasound examination is designed to evaluate the blood flow through your veins in your legs, localizing the problem areas.
Treatment
Venacure EVLT™ (Endovenous Laser Treatment), the primary treatment for varicose veins, is a minimally invasive laser procedure. The in-office procedure does not require general anesthesia, takes less than an hour, and walking immediately after the procedure is encouraged. Normal daily activity can be resumed immediately; just avoid rigorous activities such as gym workouts. Your physician inserts a sheath into the vein and then inserts a thin laser fiber which emits light. By delivering the right wavelength of laser energy to the correct tissue, the incompetent veins (varicose veins) will close. Your body automatically routes the blood to other healthy veins. Removing varicose veins normally takes less than an hour, only requires local anesthesia, and has up to a 98% success rate.
Ambulatory Phlebectomy is an alternative treatment option available for those suffering from certain forms of varicose veins. This treatment removes the affected varicose veins through small incisions, using a local anesthesia, with minimal scarring and very little down time. Treatment can be used independently or in conjunction with EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment) depending on the severity and type of the venous disease.
This procedure varies from EVLT where it does not focus on the major leg veins (great or small saphenous veins) but rather the smaller veins that branch from them. These varicose veins are resultant from long standing venous pressure, from the diseased great or small saphenous veins. For more information on what treatment is best for you, please call today for your free screening.
