New Varicose Vein Treatment Now Offered at Saint John's

If you are one of an estimated 25 million people in the United States suffering from varicose veins, you know how unsightly they are. Those blue, bulging veins in the legs can also be painful, causing aching and swelling in the affected areas.

In the past, varicose vein sufferers who wanted to treat the problem had to undergo a painful procedure known as vein stripping. During this procedure, a surgeon makes incisions in both the groin and calf, and then literally strips the offending veins out of the leg using a special tool. Vein stripping is usually performed in an operating room, under a general anesthetic, and the procedure leaves subsequent scars. Patients also suffer significant bruising and discomfort afterward, lasting up to several weeks.

As an alternative to vein stripping, a minimally invasive treatment for the age-old problem of varicose veins is now being offered by Phillip M. Levin, M.D., a specialist in vascular surgery at Saint John's Health Center. The treatment, called the VNUS Closure procedure, is performed on an outpatient basis. Following the procedure, many patients can resume their normal routine within one to two days, according to Dr. Levin, and there is minimal to no scarring, bruising or swelling afterward.

“Varicose veins are primarily due to dysfunctional valves in the superficial leg veins that allow blood to pool backward in the leg (known as reflux), rather than return to the heart,” says Dr. Levin. This pooling of blood causes veins to dilate and gives rise to varicose veins and clinical symptoms such as burning, aching, itching and throbbing.

“These leaking valves cannot be fixed and have to be permanently sealed in order to effectively treat the problem,” Dr. Levin explains.
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Approximately 50 percent of the population ages 50 and over have some form of this disorder. The problem is more common in women, who frequently develop superficial venous disease during pregnancy, and the condition worsens with subsequent pregnancies. In addition, there is a large genetic component to this disease, and people with lifestyles or jobs which require long periods of standing or sitting are also at risk for developing varicose veins, according to Dr. Levin.

“When you stand or sit on one place all day, it puts pressure on the leg veins and causes them to dilate,” says Dr. Levin. “You can help prevent varicose veins by getting up to walk around throughout the day, which will relieve the pressure.”

To treat varicose veins with the Closure procedure, a disposable catheter is inserted just below the skin into the greater saphenous leg vein. The catheter uses radiofrequency energy to heat, collapse and close the vein. Tiny (2 millimeter) incisions are then used to remove the residual varicose veins. Once the vein is closed, other healthy leg veins take over to circulate the blood.

The procedure usually takes one to two hours to complete, and patients are discharged home shortly thereafter with little or no postoperative pain. They are encouraged to walk immediately, allowing them to return to work and full activities faster than with traditional vein stripping.

“Patients must wear a compression bandage on the affected leg for three days following the procedure to aid healing but are able to resume normal activities within one to two days,” Dr. Levin says.

More than 50,000 patients nationwide have been treated with the procedure to date.

If you would like to learn more about the VNUS Closure procedure, please contact Dr. Levin at his Santa Monica office at (310) 315-5765 or by email at vascpmlevin@aol.com.

For more information about Saint John’s Health Center visit http://www.stjohns.org