Vein Care Center of Illinois uses Innovative Treatment in Palos Park for Patients with Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

The ClosureFast™ radiofrequency ablation system, a clinically proven, minimally invasive treatment, seals problem veins for patients with CVI.

Vein Care Center of Illinois is now using innovative technology for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, a disease that impacts 190 million people globally (more than 30 million Americans).
Vein Care Center of Illinois is using minimally invasive treatment technologies, such as the ClosureFast™ system. The ClosureFast™ system utilizes radiofrequency ablation (uniform heat) to seal off the problem vein so blood gets re-routed to another path. The unique procedure is proven effective9 in eliminating varicose veins and improving the appearance of the legs, allowing for a short, comfortable recovery and a quick return to everyday activities. CVI, which can sometimes present as varicose veins, is a serious health issue for Palos Park area residents. In fact, less than 10 rfg2-catheter-imagepercent of people seek treatment for varicose veins. Many people with varicose veins believe their condition to be a cosmetic issue. However, if left untreated, varicose veins can progress to CVI, a serious disease that can cause leg pain, swelling, restlessness, skin damage and ulcers.

“Data published in the British Journal of Surgery found that CVI patients treated with the ClosureFast™ procedure had strong closure rates and minimal treatment side effects at five years.” With CVI and varicose veins, the valves in the leg veins that direct blood from the legs back toward the heart no longer function properly, causing blood to pool in the legs. Although this can occur at any time, increased age is a risk factor. Varicose veins and CVI also tend to be more prevalent in women who have been pregnant, in people who have a family history of CVI or those whose jobs require them to spend a great deal of time standing.

Studies show that the ClosureFast™ procedure is associated with lower rates of pain, bruising and complications, and a faster improvement in patients’ quality of life when compared to 980 nm laser ablation. The procedure is generally conducted in a physician’s office or outpatient setting, and is covered by most health insurance. The average patient typically resumes normal activities within a few days following treatment, and most patients report a noticeable improvement in their symptoms within one to two weeks after the procedure. For more information about treatment for CVI, visit: VeinCC.com.

 

REFERENCES
1 Gloviczki, P, Comerota, A, Dalsing, M, Eklof, B, Gillespie, D, Gloviczki, M, et al. The care of patients with varicose veins
and associated chronic venous diseases: Clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the
American Venous Forum. J Vasc Surg. 2011 May; 53 (5 Suppl): 2S-48S.
2 “Age and sex composition: 2010.” In 2010 United States of America Census (c2010br-03). Web. http://www.census.
gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf.
3 US Markets for Varicose Vein Treatment Devices 2011, Millennium Research Group. 2011.
4 Almeida JI, Kaufman J, Göckeritz O, et al. Radiofrequency endovenous ClosureFast™ versus laser ablation for the
treatment of great saphenous reflux: a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized study (RECOVERY Study). J Vasc
Interv Radiol. 2009;20:752-759.
5 “What is Venous Disease?” Duke Health. Web. http://www.dukehealth.org/services/vein_clinic/about/what_is_
venous_disease.
6 Chronic venous insufficiency.” Vascular Web. Society for Vascular Surgery, Jan. 2011. Web. http://www.vascularweb.
org/vascularhealth/Pages/chronic-venous-insufficiency.aspx.
7 Criqui MH, et al. Epidemiology of chronic peripheral venous disease; JJ Bergan Editor, The Vein Book, Elsevier
Academic Press (2007): 27-37.

Varicose Vein Statistics You Should Know

Varicose veins can be a painful and unsightly experience. It’s quickly becoming one of the highest voluntary treatments, showing just how many people are truly being affected by this condition. However, varicose veins might not be thought about until they become a major issue. Here are a few statistics that show that you should start considering your risk for varicose veins now:

How many people are impacted?

There are 40 million people in the U.S. that have been diagnosed with varicose veins, that’s about 12.5 percent of the entire country’s population that share the condition. According to ABC 7, 25 percent of those with varicose veins are men. These numbers show just how widespread varicose veins truly are, and both men and women should be aware of how this condition can affect them.

How does history affect my risk?

Family medical history has a major impact on your own health. In fact, if both of your parents have varicose veins, you have a 90 percent chance of having it as well. Even if only one parent has the condition, you have a 40 to 50 percent chance of developing it. Patients that fall into these categories are urged to consult their doctor about their level or risk as well as discuss potential treatment options.

You should also take a look at your own medical history to see if it could lead to varicose veins. According to the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), up to 25 percent of women and 15 percent of men with venous disease will develop varicose veins as well. If you notice pain in your legs as well as any skin discoloration, talk to your doctor right away to examine your options.

Does age increase my chance?            

It’s true that the potential for varicose veins grows with age. In fact, SIR found that half of people ages 50 and older may develop this condition; of course, this also can stem from your history. However, individuals in their 20s can also get varicose veins, showing that it’s not fully exclusive to one demographic.

How much is the treatment market expected to grow?

This likely isn’t the first question you’d ask about varicose veins, but it can be an important one to understand how the industry is investing into improving your treatment options. Within the next eight years, the global vein treatment market is expected to reach $475 million. This growth is being driven by technological advancements as well as developments in varicose vein treatment devices to create less invasive procedures.

These statistics are important to remember as you consider how varicose veins could impact your health. To find out more about your treatment options, contact Heart Care Centers of Illinois Vein Care at (866)450-5347 veincc.com or fill out our contact sheet!

 

Lauren Pirc

What can IVUS do for you?

Intravascular Ultrasound, or IVUS, has been around for years now, and as technology has advanced, the method has become even more helpful in detecting Chronic Venous Disease. This is important because other venography approaches may not have the sensitivity or specificity necessary to diagnose CVD in the abdominal or pelvic areas of the body. Let’s take a closer look at how exactly IVUS works and what types of benefits it brings to overall patient care:

How IVUS Works

The first thing to know is that IVUS is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure. A specially designed ultrasound catheter is inserted into a small incision in your leg. From there, doctors can view compressed or obstructed vessels, as well as guide a stent to reopen the veins. This procedure can help effectively relieve ulceration, swelling and pain stemming from CVD and Deep Vein Thrombosis. The images provided by IVUS can give essential insight for where blockages exist and will enable doctors to improve patient care.

Volcano IVUS

The Real Benefits of IVUS

When it comes to medical approaches, the proof is seen through real-life results. Clinical trial data presented by Paul Gagne, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery at Norwalk Hospital, found that IVUS is better at identifying lesions than the previous imaging standard. In fact, 29 percent of the participants had lesions detected by IVUS technology, even though they had previously been cleared by X-ray venogram results. Overall, IVUS found 88 percent more lesions than multiplanar X-ray venography.

Not only is IVUS a significant benefit to improving detection, but it also can be a boon for doctor operations. In an interview with Cath Lab Digest, Daniel H. Steinberg, MD, noted that IVUS can help optimize vessel and stent sizing, as well as determine the adequacy of stent deployment. From this, doctors will have a better idea of how the lesion will behave and can plan accordingly. In certain cases, it can be easy to under or overestimate vessel size, but IVUS helps doctors make more accurate predictions.

IVUS is becoming a more prominent approach to vein care and detecting CVD within difficult areas. To schedule a consultation and see if IVUS is right for you, contact Heart Care Centers of Illinois at (708) 783-2055 or visit us at heartcc.com.

 

For more IVUS information please visit Volcano corporation’s website at volcanocorp.com

 


3 Signs it’s Time to Treat your Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are a common problem, but its symptoms may be difficult to spot if you don’t know what to look for. Here are three signs that tell you it’s time to seek treatment for your varicose veins:

1. It’s painful

Varicose veins may start out as simply an eyesore, but in some cases, it can become painful to live with. Mayo Clinic noted that you may experience achy or heavy feelings in your legs, as well as swelling, muscle cramps, burning or throbbing. If you have any of these symptoms, it could be a product of your varicose veins, and a sign that it’s time to consult a doctor. However, many people that sit or stand for long hours each day may simply think these issues are part of their normal routine. Worsened or prolonged pain from these activities are also identifiers of varicose vein problems.

2. Skin changes

Any changes to your skin color or texture are signals that you require medical attention. Drying, thinning and scaling of the skin can occur as a direct result of varicose veins. You may also see discolored skin underneath your toenails as well as redness around the vein. These issues happen because veins lose elasticity and stretch over time, causing valves to become weak. Blood that should be moving toward the heart, flows backward, and pools in the veins, developing into enlarged varicose veins. Discoloration, such as blue veins, are often apparent as a result.

Hopefully your legs don't look like this!

Hopefully your legs don’t look like this!

3. There’s a history

Your family’s medical history is a major indicator of your own risk for varicose veins and clot-related conditions. Healthy Women Community noted that people who have a genetic predisposition often end up with varicose veins, and the condition can become worse over time. It’s important to handle these situations with care because if you also have a blood-clot-related condition, you’re at a higher risk for stroke and pulmonary embolisms. Talk with your doctor about your family history and your own chances for developing these conditions.
Varicose veins aren’t just an eyesore, they can become dangerous if not treated. If you see any of these three signs, it’s time to seek advice on your varicose veins. To find out more about varicose veins and available treatments, check out veincc.com!

 

Lauren Pirc

The History of Varicose Veins and Treatments

Appearance means a lot in the world today. We dress to impress for work, interviews and first dates, put on makeup and ensure our hair is just right. The human race has a long history of working toward and maintaining an ideal appearance, but there is new technology that is able to improve our looks more than ever, especially in the case of varicose veins. Varicose veins are likely to affect 33 percent of the population, according to the National Clinical Guideline Centre, and this affliction has already been around for longer than you might expect. Let’s take a look at the history of varicose veins and treatments used to quell them:

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A brief overview

Although we think of varicose veins as more of a modern day problem, this condition has actually been noticed as early as 1550 B.C. According to Angiologist.com, the Ebers papyrus of Ancient Egypt mentioned varicose veins, ultimately recommending not to treat them. Flash forward to the days of Hippocrates – 460 B.C. to 370 B.C. – when varicose veins were recognized for creating venous ulcers. This was also the time period when Hippocrates developed the compression therapy method of treating this ailment, an approach which is still in use today.

Evolution of vein treatments

Since varicose veins go all the way back to ancient times, the processes used for treatment serve as lessons for how caring for this condition has evolve. Part of the reason why the Ebers papyrus discouraged treatment is because patients would die from hemorrhaging after the incisions were made. During the Hippocrates era, compression from multiple punctures was performed successfully, beginning the modern processes of vein treatment.
According to a report abstract from Elsevier, varicose vein treatments are now one of the most common elective general surgical procedures. There are a number of options that have emerged over time including:
• Phlebectomy – This process is performed on varicose veins on the surface of the leg. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that removes the vein with a small scalpel or needle. There’s rarely any pain involved and no stitches are required. You’ll be ready to go within 24 hours.
• Vein ablationEndovenous thermal ablation is another minimally invasive treatment that entails less pain and quicker recovery time. This method involves inserting a catheter into your leg, which delivers small amounts of medical adhesive to close varicose veins and redirect blood flow to healthy veins. After treatment, the catheter is removed.
• Foam sclerotherapy – A standard sclerosant is mixed with air or carbon dioxide to create a foam, which Is injected into the varicose vein. This method is particularly useful for larger veins. The foam damages the vein’s lining and causing blood clotting. Your body will eventually destroy the vein on its own.
• Endovenous laser therapy – As its name implies, this method uses lasers to directly target the issue. A thin fiber is inserted in the skin of the leg. As the fiber is pulled back through the vein, laser light is emitted, causing the vein to seal shut. This method is often used for superficial veins, allowing healthy veins to automatically reroute blood flow.
Vein care has obviously come a long way from the days of Ancient Egypt, and there are more options than ever for those that want to treat their varicose veins with as little pain and turnaround time as possible. To find out more about your treatment options, contact Heart Care Centers of Illinois Vein Care at (866)450-5347 or fill out our contact sheet!

 

Lauren Pirc