Venous Insufficiency is a disease within the blood vessels in your body, called veins. Veins are responsible for carrying blood from your organs, and extremities, back to your heart.
There are valves located in your veins, just like the inside of your heart. If these valves to no close well, they will let blood flow backwards through the valves, towards your feet. This causes pooling of blood in your feet and legs. This can create problems for your legs, and blood may not be adequately pumped back to your heart.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:
- Edema/Swelling
- Pain in legs
- Fatigue/Legs feel heavy
- Varicose veins/ Spider veins
- Tightness in calves
- Heat/Redness in legs
- Cellulitis
RISK FACTORS:
- More common in women
- Obesity
- Multiple pregnancies
- Smoking
- Previous blood clots
- Trauma to legs
EVLT PROCEDURE:
- Endo Venous Laser treatment.
- This procedure takes about 1 hour.
- It is required to have a family member bring you to and from the procedure.
- This procedure is done in our clinic.
ABOUT THE PROCEDURE:
They physician will start by using a local anesthetic to numb the area of skin over the targeted vein.
The physician will then use a small needle to access the diseased superficial vein. After accessing the vein, he will use a small guide wire to advance into this vessel. Once the guide wire has been inserted, he will insert the laser fiber. The laser fiber will be placed in the diseased vessel, at least 2-3 cm away from the deep blood vessels.
Next, the physician will inject a numbing solution, called Tumescent, to protect the skin around the vein. The physician will then begin the laser procedure to close the diseased superficial vein.
After the procedure has been completed the physician, or ultrasound tech, will discuss the procedure findings with your family member.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE:
Once the procedure is finished you will be released to your family member to go home.
- It is required that you walk at least 5 minutes every hour, during waking hours for the rest of the day.
- You will have follow up ultrasounds to assess the veins in the first three months following the procedure.
