Varicose Veins
The vascular surgery team at Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute. provides innovative treatment for varicose veins.
What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins appear most often on your legs where their twisted, rope-like appearance creates a bulge under your skin. Standing for long periods, pregnancy, old age and obesity are a few common causes of varicose veins. Ongoing excess pressure causes blood to pool in your lower veins, weakening and elongating them.
How we care for varicose veins
There are many treatment options for varicose veins – ranging from non-invasive to surgical. We start with the least invasive options for your diagnosis. Specialists with Lehigh Valley Health Network perform hundreds of procedures every year and often consult with other highly skilled specialists. This collaborative approach gives you the latest diagnosis and treatment options from across our network, along with unmatched surgical expertise.
Diagnosing varicose veins
Diagnosing varicose veins includes a review of your symptoms and a physical exam. A Doppler ultrasound may be used to help assess blood flow and valve function of your veins.
Treatment options for varicose veins
With laser treatment, a tiny fiber is inserted into a varicose vein through a thin, flexible tube (catheter). The fiber sends out energy that kills the diseased portion of your varicose vein. The vein closes and slowly fades from view under the skin.
During phlebectomy, smaller varicose veins are removed through a series of tiny skin punctures. A high-powered light may be used to illuminate veins during this procedure.
Radiofrequency ablation is performed under local anesthesia in a clinician’s office. A small catheter is inserted through a tiny incision and delivers heat to the vein wall, causing it to collapse and seal shut.
Sclerotherapy is a common treatment where a solution is injected into the vein causing its lining to swell, stick together and seal shut. Blood that would normally return to the heart through these veins returns to the heart through other veins. Over time, the vessel turns into scar tissue and fades from view.
During a stripping procedure, a small incision is made in your groin or leg. Your physician disconnects and ties off all major varicose vein branches associated with the main superficial vein in your leg and removes it through the incision.
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