Varicose Veins: More Than Cosmetic

REPAIRING VARICOSE VEINS: MORE THAN COSMETIC
New Therapy Can Improve Blood Flow in Legs

COVINGTON - Twisting, bulging varicose veins are frequently misunderstood as a purely cosmetic concern. But painful varicose veins can also be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency, a serious and often-undiagnosed medical condition related to impaired blood flow in the legs.

Relief is now available.

Cardiovascular specialists at Covington Cardiovascular Care at St. Tammany Parish Hospital are now using a state-of-the-art procedure to eliminate varicose veins. Doing so can relieve leg pain, skin discoloration, swelling and other symptoms in patients with CVI, which is the result of damaged valves inside veins in the legs.

Healthy veins push deoxygenated blood back up the legs toward the heart against the flow of gravity. CVI, meanwhile, erodes the function of the tiny valves, allowing blood to pool in the legs and cause superficial veins to expand and take on a lumpy, cordlike appearance.

A number of factors can cause vein disease, and visible varicose veins under the surface of the skin may be a symptom of CVI. Age, obesity, multiple pregnancies and family history are risk factors, as are occupations that require a lot of standing.

A lack of exercise exacerbates the condition, which is diagnosed through ultrasound.

“It can have a huge impact on quality of life,” said cardiologist Sohail Khan MD.

Compression stockings that support blood flow in the legs are usually the first line of treatment for patients diagnosed with varicose veins or CVI. But the newly available endovenous therapy at Covington Cardiovascular Care provides a new alternative.

The Venefit Targeted Endovenous Therapy procedure is a minimally invasive, roughly 45-minute procedure where heat generated by a delicate, flexible catheter inserted into the leg seals off the faulty valve inside the damaged vein, thereby rerouting the flow of blood to healthy veins deeper inside the leg.

Patients are given a mild sedative but remain awake during the in-office procedure. They typically can return home about an hour after treatment. Leg pain and other symptoms of CVI can start to ease within two days of treatment.

Endovenous therapy offers a number of benefits, including less pain than surgically removing damaged veins, said Covington Cardiovascular Care Cardiologist Hamid Salam MD.

Patients also are less likely to develop inflammation or bruising compared to other traditional treatments, Dr. Salam said.

“It is important to see your doctor and get checked out if you experience pain or swelling in your legs,” Dr. Salam said. “Those symptoms could indicate a serious medical condition.”

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A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. STPH.org