Varicose Veins

Varicose veins effects one out of two people age 50 and older, and nearly 25% of all adults.  Venous insufficiency is a very common condition that is caused by decreased blood flow from the leg veins up to the heart and results in a pooling of blood in the lower extremities.  This can cause varicose veins and/or spider veins.  Varicose veins become quite uncomfortable, as well as look unattractive, and they usually worsen over time.  Other symptoms include; night time leg pain, skin discoloration, skin wounds and irritation.  These symptoms are most common in women ages 30 to 70 and treatments usually consist of painful surgical procedure called “vein stripping”. 

Patients can now take advantage of a new, minimally invasive procedure that is an alternative to vein stripping, which uses radiofrequency or laser energy to eliminate both varicose and spider veins.  The procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist-a physician who is specially trained to perform this and other minimally invasive treatments.  Unlike “vein stripping”, this procedure takes place while the patient is conscious, but sedated and drowsy and feeling no pain.  The interventional radiologist inserts a thin catheter into the vein through a small opening, delivering radiofrequency or laser energy to the vein wall, causing it to heat, collapse, and seal shut.  Once the diseased vein is closed other healthy veins take over and empty blood from the leg.  The procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes and is considered very safe. Because it is minimally invasive and requires no large incisions, recovery time is much quicker.  In fact, a patient can usually be back at home quickly and even work the following day.