Barbara Molis of Meriden has had protruding veins, leg heaviness, and discomfort associated with varicose veins for years. In recent months, her symptoms seemed to get worse by the week, especially when she was standing. That was before June, when Barbara underwent a procedure at MidState Medical Center to treat her varicosities.
The procedure is medically termed radio frequency ablation, a minimally invasive practice by which doctors shut down the troublesome vein with radio frequency waves. The waves deliver heat to the vein at lower temperatures than laser treatments, causing the collagen in the vein’s lining to break down. The result—no more pain, heaviness, or bulging veins.
“It was great,” said Barbara. The office-based procedure can be conducted in 30 minutes to one hour and requires no sedation, said Daniel Schwartz, MD, MidState Medical Center.
Though patients must wear compression hose temporarily following the surgery, they are able to resume normal activity immediately. “I took a trip to American Girl in New York City the week after the procedure,” said Barbara. Barbara was hesitant about the trip at first, but her doctor encouraged her to go.
Results are almost immediate as well. Patients can notice a difference in as little as two days following surgery. Barbara commented, “I have no more pain and tiredness.”
This procedure is a far cry from what used to be done to treat venous insufficiency. In a more dated procedure, vein removal was the norm. Doctors had to surgically strip out the vein, frequently causing the patient pain and bruising. Results were not favorable either. “The vein reopens in up to 52% of cases,” Dr. Schwartz said.
Radio frequency ablation is less painful and much faster. It is performed by first using ultrasound technology to find the best location to enter the vein. Then a catheter is inserted into the diseased vein. The radio frequencies delivered to the vein close it immediately, redirecting blood to deeper, healthy veins.
MidState physicians have performed over 30 radio frequency ablation procedures since the hospital started offering them in October 2006.
Approximately 80 million Americans suffer from venous insufficiency, and another 20 million experience symptoms associated with reflux (blood traveling in the wrong direction), but only 1.2 million of these individuals seek treatment.
Vein centers have been an emerging concept in the last six years, and doctors are beginning to better understand the effect of vein problems. Bulging varicose veins are the well-known characteristic of venous insufficiency, but people can experience other problems without having physical manifestations. Pain, heavy legs, tingling, swelling, and fatigue of the legs are all signs that valves are poorly functioning.
The Vein Center at MidState will assess patients’ vein problems through a specific staging process and then propose appropriate treatment. Advanced ultrasound technology and a comprehensive examination will be used to determine a diagnosis.
Most insurance companies will cover the radio frequency ablation procedure with confirmation of symptoms and diagnosis and if conservative therapies like compression hose have continually failed.
Treating venous insufficiency and varicose veins has not always been this simplistic, but patients no longer have to suffer with pain. Dr. Hajedemos said, “The technology makes it easy to treat.”
About MidState
In quarterly patient satisfaction surveys (conducted by an independent, national research company), MidState consistently rates among the top hospitals in Connecticut and the nation. Conveniently located just minutes off Rte. 691 in Meriden, CT, MidState offers free and safe parking, as well as private inpatient rooms. Services include general surgery, emergency medicine, MidState Medical Group Walk-in Center for urgent care needs, and state-of-the-art care in centers dedicated to Cancer Care, Wound and Hyperbaric Care, Family Birthing, Sleep Care, Digestive Health, Pain Management, and Cardiac Care.
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