
Varicose Veins or Venous Insufficiency Treatment
Venous insufficiency is a common medical condition. Proper medical evaluation and appropriate imaging is important to control symptoms to select appropriate therapies for successful outcomes. The Vein Clinic is the leader in Northeast Nebraska in diagnosing and treating people with vein disease.
Varicose veins and spider veins are not usually considered a serious medical problem. Proper medical evaluation and treatment of varicose veins is important. Because chronic venous insufficiency is a progressive disease, symptoms will worsen if left untreated.
The evaluation includes a visual and physical examination of the legs and feet - checking for inflammation, areas that are tender to the touch, changes in skin color, ulcerations and other signs of skin breakdown.
In most cases an ultrasound test is ordered to determine if the valves in the veins are functioning properly and to check for evidence of a blood clot.
Over 30 million people are undiagnosed with varicose veins or Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). In the past, patients diagnosed with venous reflux would undergo the now obsolete vein stripping surgery, which has been replaced by more efficient procedures. This was a barbaric, painful vein stripping procedure.
Now, minimally invasive treatment options such as the Venefit™ (Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation or EVRFA) procedure are available. This procedure is completed in approximately one hour with minimal to no discomfort and a return to work or normal activity the same day. Venefit™ is performed in-office, eliminating the need for a hospital setting.
Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (EVRFA)
The Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (EVRFA) or Venefit™ procedure is minimally invasive and uses radiofrequency energy to effectively treat patients suffering from varicose veins. The vein specialist inserts a micro-catheter through a tiny incision into the diseased vein to provide uniform and consistent heat to contract the vein walls. This causes the vein to collapse and close. After the vein is sealed shut, blood is then naturally redirected to the healthy veins. The sealed vein simply becomes fibrous tissue after treatment and is absorbed into the body.