If painful, bulging, swollen varicose veins are holding you back, or you’re simply tired of hiding your legs due to unsightly veins, the Catawba Radiology physicians at Vitality Surgical Center can help. Our board-certified radiologists with specialized training in vascular and interventional radiology perform low-risk, minimally-invasive therapies developed by radiologists which treat the entire spectrum of venous disease and restore a more youthful appearance.
VARICOSE VEINS EXPLAINED
Healthy leg veins have valves that keep blood flowing to the heart. Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) develops when the valves stop working properly and allow blood to flow backwards (i.e. reflux) and pool in the lower leg veins. If chronic venous insufficiency is left untreated, symptoms can worsen over time.
Chronic venous insufficiency may cause the following symptoms in your legs¹:
- Varicose veins
- Aching
- Swelling
- Cramping
- Heaviness or tiredness
- Itching
- Open skin sores
- Restlessness
Procedures are performed in the conveniently-located surgical center at Vitality Med Spa in Moretz Mills
CHRONIC VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY
CVI, one of the underlying causes of venous ulcers, is a potentially serious and progressive medical condition. Symptoms can worsen over time if left untreated.
Chronic venous insufficiency is 2 times more prevalent than coronary heart disease (CHD) and 5 times more prevalent than peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Varicose veins may be more than just a cosmetic issue
- Varicose veins are not the same as spider veins
- Varicose veins affect BOTH men and women
WHO IS AT RISK FOR VARICOSE VEINS
CVI can affect anyone; gender and age are factors that may increase your risk.²
For example, women older than 50 are more likely than others to develop CVI. Other factors that may increase your risk, include:
- Family history
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Trauma
- Prolonged Standing
- Obesity or excess weight
- Current or previous pregnancies
- Smoking
TREATMENT
Varicose veins are often misunderstood as a cosmetic problem and many people living with them do not seek treatment. The minimally invasive ClosureFast™ procedure uses controlled and consistent heat delivered by the ClosureFast™ catheter to seal the diseased vein. Once the vein is sealed, blood is rerouted to nearby healthy veins. The ClosureFast™ procedure has been rigorously tested and proven across multiple studies and patients.3-6
- Criqui, M.H., Denenberg, J.O., Langer, R.D., Kaplan, R.M., & Fronek, A. (2013). Epidemiology of Chronic Peripheral Venous Disease. In J.J. Bergan & N. Bunke-Paquette (Eds.), The Vein Book (pp. 27-36). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
- “Chronic Venous Insufficiency.” Vascular Web. Society for Vascular Surgery, Jan. 2011. Web.http://www.vascularweb.org/vascularhealth/Pages/chronic-venous-insufficiency.aspx
- Proebstle TM, Alm BJ, Gockeritz O et al. Five-year results from the prospective European multicentre cohort study on radiofrequency segmental thermal ablation for incompetent great saphenous veins. British Journal of Surgery. 2015;102:212-8.
- Proebstle T, Alm J, Gockeritz O, et al. Three year European follow-up endovenous radiofrequency thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein with or without treatment of calf varicosities. J Vasc Surg. 2011;54(1)146-52.
- Almeida JI, Kaufman J, Goekeritz O, et al. Radiofrequency Endovenous ClosureFAST versus Laser Ablation for the Treatment of Great Saphenous Reflux: A Multicenter, Single-Blinded, Randomized Study (Recovery Study). JVIR June 2009.
- H. Rasmussen, M. Lawaetz, L. Bjoern, B. Vennits, A. Blemings and B. Eklof, Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Endovenous Laser Ablation, Radiofrequency Ablation, Foam Sclerotherapy and Surgical Stripping for Great Saphenous Varicose Veins. British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd., Wiley Online Library, www.bjs.co.uk, March 15, 2011.
