What is Vein Disease?
Seventy-five percent of people over the age of 60 have Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI), more commonly known as Venous Reflux. Venous reflux, sometimes referred to as "vein disease," is the primary cause of varicose veins. While many people associate varicose veins with large, protruding veins that are tender and visibly stick out, there is much more to the condition.
Varicose veins develop as a result of "wear and tear" from normal living. Over time, the valves in the veins become damaged and stop functioning properly. The larger veins stretch due to backflow, increasing the pressure in your lower legs until the veins can no longer manage. This elevated pressure causes blood to leak out of the veins into the surrounding subcutaneous tissue.
The Stages of Venous Reflux
In the early stages of venous reflux, you may experience:
- Restless leg syndrome
- Swelling in the feet or ankles
- Numbness, also known as neuropathy
As the condition progresses, leg swelling becomes more pronounced, and the skin on the legs begins to darken and discolor. Many people are misdiagnosed with infections during this stage, but antibiotics often fail to help. Swelling may worsen to the point where shoes no longer fit. Some patients are mistakenly labeled as having lymphedema, even though they have no underlying causes for it.
Key signs of venous reflux include:
- Legs feeling fine in the morning but becoming swollen and painful by evening.
- Swelling and discomfort that worsen with activity, yet inactivity isn’t a viable option.
- Compression therapy that provides no relief even after six months of consistent use.
- Limited relief from leg elevation, if it has been tried at all.
What Causes Venous Reflux?
The condition occurs when the valves in the saphenous veins (the veins running along the inner thigh and calf) are damaged. These valves fail to prevent blood from pooling in the legs, leading to increased pressure within the veins. Over time, this pressure causes the veins to stretch. Unfortunately, once a vein is stretched, it cannot return to its original size or function.
Although venous reflux is rarely life-threatening, it is often painful and significantly impacts daily activities and quality of life.
Treatment Options
Historically, patients had few options for treating varicose veins. Recommendations often included lifestyle changes, such as eating less, exercising more, and wearing compression stockings. However, these measures are rarely effective in reducing leg pain or slowing the progression of vein deterioration, even in mild cases.
Recent research shows that venous disease is a natural part of aging, caused by "wear and tear" on the veins. Once venous disease is diagnosed, treatment is the only proven option to address and potentially cure the condition.
Modern Treatments for Venous Reflux
Treatment focuses on addressing the superficial vessels responsible for pain and inflammation. These vessels are part of the body’s backup circulation system and are not essential to your overall circulatory health. In fact, the veins being treated are diseased and causing harm.
It’s worth noting that the human body has so many veins that not all of them are named. The treatments target only the problematic veins. Procedures used to treat venous disease vary depending on the location and severity of the condition and may include:
- Endovascular procedures
- Sclerotherapy
- Cutaneous skin surgery
Regardless of the technique required, Dr. Parisi has extensive experience in performing these procedures. He has been a certified instructor for many of the advanced technologies used in venous treatment today.
Learn More from Dr. Parisi
To hear Dr. Parisi explain venous disease and its treatments in detail, watch this television video:
EVCA (Endovascular Catheter Ablation)
The EVCA procedure was a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of venous disease. Unlike harsh vein-stripping surgeries, this procedure offers a far less invasive yet more advanced option. It is an outpatient treatment that takes approximately 20 minutes and is performed at Las Vegas Vein by Dr. Parisi. Patients experience less discomfort and significantly shorter healing times compared to traditional treatment options for varicose veins. Coupled with other proven techniques, the EVCA procedure ensures your vein disease is treated comprehensively.
How the EVCA Procedure Works
The EVCA procedure was developed over a four-year period to specifically treat superficial venous reflux. This patented technology uses a very small catheter and employs either energy-based or mechanochemical methods to seal the vein shut.
Dr. Parisi begins the procedure by inserting a slender catheter into the saphenous vein through an IV. The catheter is carefully positioned near the groin, where treatment begins. The catheter is then slowly withdrawn, sealing the vein as it moves. The procedure requires no stitches, and most patients can return to normal activities within three to seven days.
Clinical Evidence and Patient Outcomes
The EVCA procedure has been the focus of numerous studies and peer-reviewed journal articles. One multi-center, randomized trial compared recovery rates and quality of life between patients treated with conventional vein stripping and those who underwent the EVCA procedure. A third randomized trial found that patients treated with the EVCA procedure consistently experienced:
- Less post-operative pain
- Faster return to normal activities and work compared to patients treated with surgical vein stripping
In addition, published studies reported the following outcomes:
- 12- and 24-Month Results: At 12 and 24 months after the EVCA procedure, over 97% of treated veins remained reflux-free.
- Symptom Relief: Patients experienced significant reductions in limb pain, fatigue, and edema (swelling).
- High Patient Satisfaction: One study assessing patient satisfaction at 6 months found that 98% of patients would recommend the EVCA procedure to a friend with similar leg vein problems.
To date, more than 10 million patients have been successfully treated with the EVCA procedure worldwide.