Some 24 million Americans have varicose veins. In fact, 72 percent of all women and 42 percent of men will have the unsightly leg bulges by the time they reach their 60s. Not only can varicose veins make thighs and calves look unappealing, they can cause pain and numbness. Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center offers a variety of treatments for varicose veins, including a minimally invasive option called The Closure Procedure. Endovascular surgeons at BIDMC can help determine the best treatment for you.
What causes varicose veins?
Your legs are made up of a network of veins and vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Sometimes, the vein valves become damaged or diseased, and the flow of blood is reversed, sending it down toward the feet. The blood can pool creating pressure in the leg veins which can cause them to become dilated or varicose.
Who is at risk for varicose veins?
Varicose veins tend to run in families, implying a genetic link. Also, women who have had multiple pregnancies are at greater risk, as are men and women who are obese or have occupations that force them to spend a lot of time on their feet.
What are the traditional treatments for varicose veins?
Staying off your feet and elevating the legs can help the pain and numbness caused by varicose veins. Compression stockings can also provide relief. But these treatments won’t cure the underlying problem that leads to bulging veins.Traditional surgery, called vein stripping, involves removing a portion of the saphenous vein. This requires two incisions—one in the groin crease and one in the calf. A stripper tool is threaded through the diseased vein and pulls the diseased vein out of the leg. Patients usually can go back to their normal activities after 3 days, with the utilization of compression stockings. In another procedure called Ambulatory Micro- Phlebectomy, doctors remove smaller varicose veins through a series of tiny skin punctures.
What is The Closure Procedure?
The Closure Procedure is a newer way of treating varicose veins. Using ultrasound, surgeons position a catheter into the diseased vein through a small opening in the skin. This tiny catheter delivers radiofrequency (RF) energy to the vein wall. As the catheter is removed, the vein wall heats up, causing the collagen in the wall to shrink and the vein to close. Once the diseased vein is closed, blood is re-routed to other healthy veins.
What are the benefits of The Closure Procedure?
The procedure itself takes about one hour and is done under local anesthesia in our office, no hospital trip is required. Patients usually return to their normal activities the following day. Studies show those who have the Closure Procedure report less post-operative pain than with traditional vein stripping with minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling. In fact, 98 percent of patients who have undergone The Closure Procedure are willing to recommend it to a friend or family member.
Does insurance cover The Closure Procedure?
Most insurance plans do cover The Closure Procedure for those who have pain in their legs and feet as a result of varicose veins.
