Treatments for Venous Disease
The sooner our team can diagnose venous disease, the sooner it can be given an effective treatment plan that fits the patient's needs. While some patients feel they can treat the disease on their own, it is best to seek a professional diagnosis as soon as possible in order to gain long-term relief and avoid further complications.
Venous disease can be treated through minimally invasive surgery or nonsurgical therapies. Through noninvasive testing, a thorough physical exam, and a review of your medical history, our vascular surgeons will determine the best treatment plan for you.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL TREATMENTS
At UI Health, a majority of the interventions are performed in a minimally invasive fashion on an outpatient basis, where patients are able to leave that day. These procedures include:
Arterial/Venous Thrombolysis or Thrombectomy
Blood clots in arties or veins can blood the normal flow of blood throughout the body. Using special catheters, wires, and stents, vascular surgeons are able to remove blood clots to restore normal blood flow.
Radiofrequency Venous Ablation
Blood that should normally travel through the veins from the feet back to the heart can reverse direction if the valves within those veins no longer function well. The ablation procedure treats the veins which are associated with the reversal or reflux of blood and to reduce or resolve the resulting symptoms, including swelling, a burning or persistent discomfort, and varicose or spider veins.
Sclerotherapy
In this procedure, small- and medium-sized varicose veins are injected with a solution that scars and closes the veins. In a few weeks, treated varicose veins should fade.
Thrombolysis
Blood clots form within blood vessels and grow to block blood flow. Thrombolysis is a procedure that dissolves abnormal blood clots in blood vessels, which improves blood flow to help prevent tissue and organ damage. During thrombolysis, an X-ray is used to guide medication or a medical device to the site of the blood clot in order to dissolve the clot.
NONSURGICAL TREATMENTS
Depending on your diagnosis, the vascular team may treat your venous disease with nonsurgical therapies. These may include:
- Compression Therapy: Prescription compression stockings may help improve blood flow.
- Exercise: Physical activity helps to strengthen your leg muscles and improve blood flow.
- Weight loss: Maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the strain on your veins. It may also improve symptoms, such as swelling and aching.
