Varicose vein treatments

Normally, veins carry blood back up the legs, with valves helping to prevent backflow down the legs.  Venous insufficiency or reflux occurs when there is abnormal flow back down through the leaky valves, causing increased venous pressure.  Symptoms of venous insufficiency include: aching, pain, heaviness, fatigue, itching, burning, throbbing and swelling.  Venous insufficiency can lead to varicose veins and eventually venous stasis ulcers.  VenaCure is a safe and effective laser treatment that treats venous insufficiency.  This 30 minute outpatient procedure has minimal side effects if any and does not require a lengthy recovery.  Laser ablation treatments are usually covered by most health insurances and Medicare.  With the VenaCure, the interventional radiologist inserts a thin laser fiber into the faulty vein through a small nick in the skin.  The laser energy is transmitted through the fiber causing the vein to seal shut.  Blood flow is then rerouted to healthy veins.  No down time is required, so you may resume normal activities immediately, avoiding rigorous activity for two weeks.  A compression stocking is worn for two weeks after the procedure.  Laser ablation with the VenaCure is effective 99% of the time and immediate relief of the symptoms of varicose veins is likely.  


Dr. Allen was the first physician to perform laser ablation of varicose veins in Nebraska.  Advanced Radiology is also the only group in the country to have been awarded the AngioDynamics EVLT Award of Excellence for three consecutive years in 2009, 2010 and 2011 for outstanding success in laser vein treatments.  Over 25 years of laser experience with varicose veins, Advanced Radiology physicians are second to none for minimally invasive vein therapies in Nebraska.

Microphlebectomy

Some varicose veins are best treated with a microphlebectomy due to their size and location in the legs.  If the varicose vein is near the surface, a microphlebectomy might be the best procedure to treat the problem.  A vein light is utilized to help map out the veins on the skin surface.  After a local anesthetic is applied to the veins, they are gently teased out with a microhook through a series of small nicks in the skin.  Only steristrips are used on the nicks and there is little or no scarring.  This is also an outpatient procedure usually covered by most insurance and Medicare.  Little or no down time is required following a microphlebectomy.  Patients are recommended to wear a compression stocking for up to a week following the procedure.

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical treatment for some types of varicose veins.  It is most effective for treating small varicose and spider veins.  With sclerotherapy a solution is injected into the vein.  Introducing the sclerotherapy solution causes the vein to scar and finally collapse.  When this happens, blood is caused to reroute through healthier veins.  In a short period of time, the body absorbs the collapsed vein.  Following sclerotherapy, patients notice the treated veins fade over a few weeks.  Sometimes it may take over a month to see the final results.

Thermocoagulation of Spider Veins

The TC3000 Thermocoagulator is a treatment for eliminating fine spider veins, rosacea, and petechia.  A small burst of energy is transmitted through a probe, heating the vein.  When this happens, blood coagulates in the vein causing it to collapse.  Once collapsed, the body reabsorbs the damaged vein, causing it to disappear.  This treatment works best on spider veins that are 0.3mm and smaller in diameter.  For reference, a human hair averages about 0.1mm.  It is not designed to treat larger veins deep beneath the skin.  


Thermocoagulation is an office-based procedure that takes 20-30 mins.  The size of the probe and the amount of energy used is comparatively small due to the size of the veins treated with this procedure.  Thus, only a small needle-prick is felt upon inserting the probe and a warm sensation at the treatment site is felt.  There is no downtime following thermocoagulation and results are apparent within a few weeks.