Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition that affects the functioning of your vein valves. Veins carry blood to the heart, and vein valves prevent blood from flowing backward. Venous insufficiency occurs when these valves are damaged, and veins have trouble sending blood back to your heart, causing blood to pool in your leg’s vein. Although many factors lead to venous insufficiency, blood clots and varicose veins are the main culprits. A family history of venous insufficiency can lead to this condition, but your specialist, Dr. David Jacobs Rockville Centre, can guide you on ways to prevent it.
Diagnosis
History: Your doctor will ask about any symptoms you are experiencing, family history of chronic venous insufficiency, or underlying conditions of varicose veins or blood clots.
Physical examination: Your doctor will carefully examine your legs for any disorders.
Venogram: During this test, your doctor intravenously puts a contrast dye into your veins. The contrast dye makes your blood vessels opaque on the X-ray image, which helps the doctor view better. The shade will provide a clear picture of your veins.
Duplex ultrasound: This method tests the speed and direction of blood flow in your veins. Duplex ultrasound involves your doctor placing some gel on your skin and pressing a small hand-held device called a transducer against the affected area. The gadget uses sound waves that bounce to a computer and produce images of your blood flow.
Treatment
Medications: Your doctor can prescribe diuretics which draw extra fluid from your body which is then excreted through the kidneys. Anticoagulant drugs help to thin your blood. You can also take medications that help improve blood flow, like pentoxifylline.
Ambulatory phlebectomy: This procedure involves your specialist numbing the affected and then making small pricks and removing smaller varicose veins.
Sclerotherapy: This technique is reserved for advanced venous insufficiency. The procedure involves your doctor injecting a chemical into the damaged vein so that it no longer carries blood. Blood will flow to the heart through other veins, and the body will absorb the damaged ones. Sclerotherapy destroys small to medium veins.
Catheter procedure: In severe cases of chronic venous insufficiency, your specialist can use catheter procedures for larger veins. A thin tube is inserted into the affected vein, heats its end, and then is removed. The heat causes the vein to close and seals the vein as the catheter is taken out.
Minimally invasive endoscopic surgery: Your surgeon inserts a thin tube with a camera that helps to see and tie off varicose veins.
Vein bypass: Your surgeon transplants a healthy vein from another part of your body. Vein bypass is specifically used in the upper thigh and is the last option in severe cases.
Laser surgery: This is a relatively new treatment involving lasers with strong light surges that either close or fade the damaged vein.
Compression stockings: These stockings put pressure on your legs to improve blood flow. They are made in different tightness, lengths, and styles.
In addition to these treatment methods, lifestyle changes like maintaining average weight, avoiding long standing hours, and regular exercise will help improve your symptoms and prevent reoccurrence. Schedule an appointment at South Shore Vein and Aesthetic for chronic venous insufficiency to relieve the discomforting symptoms.
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