As a reader of this publication, you may already know more about varicose veins than you would like, because half of all Americans over 50 (and two-thirds of women over 60) suffer from the pain and swelling of those big ropey leg veins. The condition is caused by failing valves in the primary veins that allow blood to pool up in the legs, and symptoms can range from aching and fatigue to skin ulcers and blood clots. Women who have had more than two pregnancies are at particular risk, and heredity, weight and “vertical” careers like nursing or teaching are risk factors as well.
Back in the old days – the 20th century – the only surgical option for patients with severe varicose veins was a gruesome and painful procedure called vein stripping that left the patient scarred and laid up for weeks. Today, however, we have next-generation medical technology to treat the problem – minimally invasive catheters that close the diseased main vein from within. By placing a small device in the vein, I am able to deliver bursts of energy through the catheter’s heating element to heat and contract the vein walls. With the primary vessel sealed, the body automatically re-establishes healthier circulation and the varicosity symptoms quickly dissipate.
Catheter devices fall into two categories – radiofrequency (RF) devices and lasers. Both are fast and effective. I do the procedure in the office with a local anesthetic, and the patient is in and out in less than an hour, usually resuming normal activity the next day. The leg pain and heaviness frequently disappear almost immediately, and visible changes are evident in a few weeks.
Clinical studies have found the new procedure more than 96 percent effective, and because it is a medical necessity rather than a cosmetic procedure, Medicare and other major health insurance carriers cover it. My active senior patients are delighted to have the zip back in their legs – and to be able to wear shorts – for the first time in decades. FBN
Robert Wolyn, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and vein specialist at Mountain Heart Health Services. To schedule a free exam, call 928-226-6400.