|
| What is
Venous Reflux Disease? |
| |
Your legs are made up of a network of veins and vessels that carry blood back to the heart.
The venous system is comprised of Deep Veins and Superficial
Veins (veins closer to the skin).
 Perforating veins connect the deep system with the superficial system.
They pass through the deep layer of muscular fascia tissue at mid-thigh, knee and ankle.
Vein valves become damaged or diseased, resulting in vein valve failure.
Reflux or backward flow in the veins occurs. Pooling of blood causes pressure in leg veins.
Increased pressure may cause surface veins to become dilated (varicose). |
|
|
|
Who is at risk for Venous Reflux Disease? |
| |
It is estimated that in America, 72% of women and 42% of men will experience varicose veins by the time they are in their 60s.
Prevalence is highly correlated to age and gender.
Risk factors are:
- Multiple pregnancies
- Family history
- Obesity
- Standing profession
|
|
|
|
What are the Symptoms? |
| |
Approximately 24 million Americans suffer from venous reflux.
Common symptoms of this progressive condition include:
- Varicose veins
- Pain
- Swollen limbs
- Leg heaviness and fatigue
- Skin changes and skin ulcers
|
|
|
|
What are the Conservative
Treatments? |
| |
Conservative
treatments such as leg elevation and compression stockings temporarily reduce symptoms caused by venous insufficiency.
By temporarily reducing the vein diameter, compression of the legs leads to a reduction in swelling and an acceleration of blood flow.
However, these treatments are
only temporary and they often have poor patient compliance because they:
- are difficult for patients to integrate into daily routine
- are uncomfortable
- require lengthy (lifelong) treatment
- do not cure the underlying problem (pathology)
|
|
|
|
What Complementary Procedures are
Available? |
|
Sclerotherapy |
| |
Sclerotherapy uses injections of small amounts of hypertonic saline to destroy very small "spider" veins. This is also done in the office and frequently requires multiple sessions to complete. |
| |
|
|
Phlebectomy |
| |
Phlebectomy is used to remove diseased veins through a series of small incisions and use of specialized hooks to treat visible varicose veins. It is commonly performed adjunctively with other procedures that treat the underlying condition of venous reflux disease. |
| |
|
| What
is the VNUS Closure Procedure? |
| |
Using the ClosureFAST™
Catheter, the vein is treated with resistive heating that
contracts the vein wall. The procedure is done in 7cm vein segments, beginning at the highest treatment point.
The catheter is withdrawn from marker to marker until the entire length of vein is treated. |
| |
|
| What
are the Benefits of the VNUS Closure Procedure? |
| |
After the VNUS Closure procedure, patient symptoms improve quickly and cosmetic issues become easier to address.
Following the Closure procedure, most patients can resume normal activities within one to two days, compared to the postoperative convalescence of two or more weeks commonly experienced following traditional vein stripping.
It is an outpatient procedure requiring either local or general anesthesia and is covered by most insurance providers. |
| |
|
| Are there
Safety Concerns with the VNUS Closure Procedure? |
| |
The VNUS Closure System is intended for endovascular coagulation of blood vessels in patients with superficial venous reflux. It is not recommended for patients with a thrombus (blood clot) in the vein segment to be treated.
Potential risks and complications include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Perforation (hole through the wall of the vein)
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot in one of the veins deeper in the leg)
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot that travels into the arteries of the lung)
- Phlebitis (reddened, warm skin caused by blood clot in the vein)
- Hematoma (collection of blood under the skin)
- Adjacent nerve injury (numbness or tingling in the legs)
- Infection
- Skin burn
|
| |
|
| Where can I get
More Information on the VNUS Closure Procedure? |
| |
You can visit the VNUS website at
www.vnus.com for more detailed information. |
| |
| Is there a vein provider in my area? |
| |
A list of vein providers is available here. |
| |
|
