MGH Vein Clinic
offers non-surgical procedure to remove varicose veins
Patient: ‘I would absolutely recommend this approach to others’
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Dr. Christopher Mehall, Medical Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Marquette General Hospital, performs non-surgical sapheneous vein closure treatment on Sue Britton of Marquette. The endovascular outpatient treatment, new to the Upper Peninsula, is viewed as a major breakthrough in treating varicose veins. (MGH photo) |
For the last 15 years or so, a varicose vein in the lower left leg has been a painful problem for registered nurse Sue Britton of Marquette. Varicose veins are a painful condition in the legs that affects an estimated 80 million people in the United States.
Sue Britton
Britton said she remembers experiencing pain in her left leg while
working as a staff nurse.
“On days when I was on my feet a lot, especially if there were prolonged
periods of standing, I would get very achy legs and some swelling,” she
said. “All these years, I wondered if there was treatment available to
me.”
Today, Britton experiences relatively little pain after recently undergoing
a newly available non-surgical technique at the Vein Clinic, offered by the
Specialty Clinic and Imaging Department at Marquette General Hospital.
Sapheneous vein closure treatment — new to the Upper Peninsula — is
an endovascular outpatient treatment performed using local anesthetic. Endovascular
surgery employs catheter-based technologies to treat vascular diseases.
During the procedure, imaging specialists at Marquette General thread a tiny
laser fiber into the saphenous vein to seal it, correcting the cause of varicose
veins.
“I’m very hopeful that this will solve the problems I have experienced
because of the varicose vein,” Britton said.
Common symptoms associated with varicose veins include:
· Aching
· Heaviness
· Tiredness
· Cramping
· Swelling
· Burning
· Itching
· Significant bulging of leg veins
Less common signs or symptomsinclude: restless legs at night; leg cramps at
night; superficial blood clotting; bleeding from a superficial vein after
minor trauma; and unusual rashes.
The minimally invasive treatment is viewed as a major breakthrough in treating
varicose veins, which are typically treated surgically by ligation and vein
stripping. These procedures require overnight hospital stays and weeks of
recuperation.
In most cases, the endovascular vein closure treatment takes less than an
hour to complete.
Dr. Christopher Mehall, Medical Director of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
at Marquette General who oversees the comprehensive Vein Clinic, said the
new approach is good news for many patients who have painful varicose veins.
“Patients who undergo the vein closure treatment typically recovery quite
quickly and there is little or no scarring,” Dr. Mehall said. “These
patients can generally return to their normal activities once they leave the
hospital, sometimes the same day or next day.”
Approximately one in five people in the United States experience painful and
unattractive varicose veins, which form over time. Some 27 million Americans
suffer from venous insufficiency, including 25 percent of all women and 15
percent of all men. Venous insufficiency and varicose veins lead to more
significant leg pain and fatigue, ulcers, hemorrhage and infection.
“In a leg, the blood flows upward toward the heart, and the veins have
one-way valves that prevent the blood from flowing backwards,” explained
Mehall. “These valves, over time, fail to close tightly and blood pools
together, which causes varicose veins.”
Britton underwent the procedure to guard against potential long-term, lower-leg
problems.
“I didn’t want to have a huge surgical procedure that would take
a long time to recover from. When the Vein Clinic started at Marquette General
(this past spring), I was excited to think that maybe it was an option for me,” she
said.
“The way my leg looked concerned me, but that wasn’t what really
prompted me to get something done. I was starting to see an increase in spider
veins in the ankle area, which is a common place to develop wound ulcers if they
are left untreated. By having the varicose vein removed from my leg, my goal
was to prevent more serious problems from developing down the line.”
The new approach, Mehall said, offers “a new alternative to more invasive
procedures” that is more affordable, less time consuming and as effective
as traditional surgery.
Britton went back to work the day after her procedure. Within days, the level
of pain in her leg decreased and there were no visible signs of scarring.
“The procedure fit into my busy schedule,” she said. “I would
absolutely recommend this approach to others. Because I have a family history
of varicose veins, I wanted to prevent problems with leg ulcers now.”
MGH’s vein clinic is a collaborative effort under the Divisions of Vascular & Interventional
Radiology and General Surgery. The choices of treatment are specific to the
medical condition of each patient.
The clinic offers comprehensive venous disease services, including:
· Venous imaging services
· Laser saphenous vein ablation
· Surgical venous stripping and phlebectomy (removal of larger varicose
veins)
· Wound care services from the MGHS Wound Care Clinic
· Professional fitting of support stockings and wraps
The Vein Clinic sees patients several days per month in the Specialty Clinic
at Marquette General. Patients are encouraged to obtain a referral from their
primary care physician to schedule appointments at the Vein Clinic. Dr. Mehall
said patients can also call the MGH Specialty Clinic directly to schedule
appointments at 906-225-7808 or 1-800-562-9753, ext. 7808.
Marquette General Hospital, 420 W. Magnetic Street, Marquette MI 49855