Varicose veins (swollen, twisted veins you can see under your skin typically in the feet and legs), are generally benign, meaning it's not really harmful, just cosmetically not appealing.
They can however, cause heaviness and tiredness in the legs, burning and tingling, swelling and throbbing. If varicose veins go unchecked, they can result in phlebitis (inflammation of the veins), skin changes, sores that don’t heal, painful ulcers and infection. Up to 55 percent of women and 40 percent of men suffer from this condition.
Varicose vein disease occurs when the superficial veins stop working properly. Rather than the blood returning back to the heart in a normal fashion, the blood flows backwards and pools in the legs. Risk factors include family history, women with multiple pregnancies and individuals who are on their feet the majority of their work day.
Rely on Nebraska Medicine to Treat Your Varicose Veins Because We Offer:
Minimally invasive techniques are used to seal off the abnormal vein system. These methods allow you to go home the same day of your procedure.
- Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) - This procedure can rid you of this unpleasant condition and have you walking out of the office pain-free immediately after. It involves inserting a fiber-optic probe through a tiny entry point, usually near the knee, to seal off the vein. Laser energy is then delivered to the faulty vein to seal it off.
- VNUS - This procedure is a minimally invasive treatment procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to heat, collapse and seal off the targeted blood vessels. Ultrasound technology is used to map the course of the veins and to guide a catheter through a small incision into the diseased vein, threading it through the blood vessel into the groin area. Radiofrequency energy is then delivered to destroy and seal off the targeted vein. Blood flow is rerouted through healthier adjacent veins, restoring healthy circulation and reducing swelling.
- Ultrasound guided chemical ablation - This is a procedure that uses ultrasound technology to visualize deeper abnormal veins that are not visible on the skin. Your doctor then uses high potency foam sclerotherapy to safely target and close those veins.
- Sclerotherapy is also offered as a common and effective way to treat varicose and spider veins by injecting a solution into the veins.
- Vascular skin laser treatment - This procedure is used to treat stubborn spider veins that won't go away after using the treatments listed above.
Experienced, Comprehensive Care
Our Vascular Center is devoted to the diagnosis, treatment and management of circulatory system diseases.The center brings together the expertise of a variety of experienced specialists to ensure you receive a full scope of treatment options ranging from the latest minimally invasive techniques to standard open surgical procedures.
Accreditations and Awards
The vascular services program at Nebraska Medicine is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Nebraska Medicine is a participant in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program® (ACS NSQIP®) is the first nationally validated, risk-adjusted, outcomes-based program to measure and improve the quality of surgical care. ACS NSQIP is designed to help hospitals improve surgical care through the use of risk-adjusted clinical data. The program will place hospitals in the national lead in providing high-quality, effective surgical care.
Nebraska Medicine is a member of the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) is a collaborative of regional quality groups collecting and analyzing data in an effort to improve patient care.