Interventional & Vascular Specialty Center

At Baptist Medical Center South’s new Interventional & Vascular Specialty Center, patients are finding state-of-the-art technology and relief from varicose veins, leg swelling, and other painful vascular disorders. Our services include a wide variety of minimally invasive procedures such as ablations and sclerotherapy. We also offer relief from venous ulcers and can help with the management of blood clots. It’s time to feel good in your own skin, again.

What Are Varicose Veins?

Varicose veins are bulging, enlarged veins and most often affect the veins in the legs as standing and walking increase the pressure in the veins of the lower body. For many people, varicose veins are simply a cosmetic concern but can cause aching pain and discomfort, sometimes leading to more serious health problems. Treatment involves exercising, raising legs when sitting or lying down, or wearing compression stockings. A procedure may be done to close or remove veins.

Symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Veins that are dark purple, blue, or the same color as the skin. Depending on skin color, these changes may be harder or easier to see.
• Veins that look twisted and bulging. They often look like cords on the legs.
• An achy or heavy feeling in the legs.
• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping and swelling in the lower legs.
• Worse pain after sitting or standing for a long time.
• Itching around one or more of the veins.
• Changes in skin color around a varicose vein.

Catheter-Assisted Procedures

In these procedures, a tube is inserted into the greater saphenous vein, the largest superficial vein of the leg. The catheter is extended up to the groin and the greater saphenous vein is closed with either radiofrequency energy or with glue. This converts the blood flow from the superficial skin surface to the deep venous system. In many patients, this is curative. The symptoms of varicose veins include painful legs and leg swelling. In more severe cases, patients could have venous ulcers of the lower extremity.

Radiofrequency Ablation

• Thermal vein closure:
  • ClosureFast™ Procedure - Uses radiofrequency energy or heat to close the diseased vein, which redirects blood flow to healthy veins, relieving symptoms. 

VenaSeal™

• Nonthermal vein closure:  
  • VenaSeal™ Procedure - Delivers a small amount of a specially formulated medical adhesive to close the diseased vein, which redirects blood flow to healthy veins, relieving symptoms.

What Are Spider Veins?

Spider veins are tiny blood vessels that usually appear as clusters of red, purple, or blue veins just under the skin's surface. They are threadlike and "spidery" in appearance, sometimes having a starburst or tree-like pattern. They occur most commonly on the leg around the thighs, calves, or ankles. 

Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure performed in an outpatient clinic that requires no anesthesia. A sclerosant (irritating liquid) is injected into a vein using a small needle. The blood in the vein is displaced, causing damage to the vein which encourages the vein to become inflamed and ultimately smaller and less visible. Sclerotherapy is used when treating unwanted varicose veins, reticular veins, and spider veins.

• Varithena is a varicose vein treatment called foam sclerotherapy that involves injecting a microfoam that causes veins to close. 
• Asclera (Polidocanol) Injection is used for the treatment of spider and reticular veins in the lower extremities. Asclera is injected into affected veins, causing them to seal shut and be reabsorbed into the body. The affected veins then fade from view over time. 

Goals

The goals of varicose vein treatments are to:

• Stop or reduce pain.
• Stop or reduce leg swelling.
• Improve function and mobility.
• Reduce the number of pain medications taken.
• Avoid or delay surgery.
• Heal venous ulcers or nonhealing wounds.

Prevention

Getting better blood flow and muscle tone might lower the risk of having varicose veins. The same ways you treat the discomfort from varicose veins can help prevent them. Try the following:

• Don't wear high heels or tight stockings, other than compression stockings.
• Change how you sit or stand often.
• Eat a high-fiber, low-salt diet.
• Exercise.
• Raise your legs when sitting or lying down.
• Keep a healthy weight.

Our minimally invasive treatments offer patients a maximum reduction in varicose veins.

Lower Extremity Venous Duplex Ultrasounds are currently available by appointment Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. for the following:

• Venous Insufficiency
• Varicose Veins
• Peripheral Edema
• Venous Ulcer
• Non-healing Wound

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