Annual Advancements in Medicine Section
From minimally invasive surgical technologies to innovative appproaches to rehabiliation and beyond, new research in the medical field is optimizing care for patients and doctors alike. Read on to discover the latest in revolutionary treatment options.
Innovative options are available to patients dealing with varicose veins and venous insufficiency.
Understanding Venous Insufficiency
Varicose veins are swollen and twisted blood vessels that are visible just under the skin’s surface, typically in the legs and feet. They are very common, affecting 1 in 3 adults. In some cases, adults with varicose veins can develop chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
CVI is caused by inadequate blood flow in the legs and is the most common cardiovascular disorder, typically affecting adults over the age of 50. It occurs when the valves in the venous system malfunction, causing blood to pool in the lower legs. Symptoms include painful varicose veins, swelling, cramping, heaviness, and skin changes. Swelling and fatigue is often worse at the end of the day and improves with elevation or compression. Left untreated, CVI can lead to serious health conditions including ulceration and limb loss.
New Solutions
Advanced venous therapies can provide relief from these symptoms and treat both varicose veins and CVI. Noninvasive ultrasound is used to diagnose CVI and determine the appropriate course of treatment, with ultrasound devices sometimes placed inside the vein to diagnose more advanced forms of CVI and help to guide therapy.
What to Expect
These minimally invasive therapeutic options include:
Chemical ablation. Boston Scientific’s Varithena uses chemical ablation to treat diseased veins. It involves an injection of a medicated foam to collapse the vein, thereby redirecting blood flow to healthier veins nearby.
Radiofrequency thermal ablation. This procedure is frequently used to treat CVI. It uses a small, flexible catheter to deliver heat to the offending vein, causing it to close. This redirects flow to a lower pressure, higher flow vein, decompressing the system. BD’s Venclose is the most advanced therapeutic radiofrequency solution on the market today.
Stenting. A metal mesh tube, called a stent, is used to open narrowed or blocked veins and improve the return of blood back to the heart by decompressing the system. Leaders in this field include Medtronic’s Abre and BD’s Venovo advanced venous stent systems.
Benefits to Patients
Thanks to these advanced diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, management of CVI can be a relatively easy and efficient process. Patients can find relief from leg pain and fatigue in fast outpatient procedures that involve minimal discomfort.
