w w w. r i m i r a d . c o mJuly 2017

401 .432 .2400

Varicose Vein

Therapy

What makes The Vein Institute at Rhode Island Medical Imaging different:

• Only image guided experts in varicose vein treatment in RI

• Most experienced and highest volume vein practice in RI

• Review of patient’s clinical situation and treatment plan are in one consult

• Geographic diversity of practice

EAST GREENWICHGreenwich Medical Center 1351 South County Trail

Building 1, Suite 105 East Greenwich, RI

BARRINGTONBarrington Medical Center

1525 Wampanoag Trail East Providence, RI

PAWTUCKETBlackstone Valley Medical Building

333 School StreetPawtucket, RI

What causes these conditions?Veins carry blood from the legs back to the heart. The thin-walled veins are squeezed by the leg muscles as they contract, forcing the blood into one-way valves. If the valves fail to close or leak, the blood can run backwards and pool in the legs. If this blood pools close to the surface of the skin, the veins become swollen and visible. Female hormones may also play a role in the development of spider veins.

What are some of the treatments for varicose veins and spider veins?Varicose veins and spider veins may require different types of treatment. At Rhode Island Medical Imaging, all types can be treated with a variety of minimally invasive approaches. Large veins are treated with a simple and virtually painless procedure called endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). Medium and smaller veins are treated with ultrasound guided sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy.

What is endovenous laser ablation (EVLA)?This exciting non-surgical procedure targets the vein walls internally with a laser beam, and shrinks them, thus closing the faulty vein so the blood can no longer flow through it. The procedure is guided with ultrasound to help ensure ultimate accuracy.

What are the advantages of endovenous laser ablation and other minimally invasive approaches over older procedures?With these newer techniques, some of the advantages are a lower recurrence rate, a shorter recovery period, and no general anesthesia required. Most importantly, there is no visible scarring. Older procedures, such as surgical ligation and stripping, are performed under general anesthesia and involve at least two surgical incisions in order to remove the faulty vein.

What is sclerotherapy?For the treatment of small varicose veins and spider veins, a sclerosing foam or solution is injected into the vein with a very fine needle using image guidance. This causes the vein to constrict and reduce or disappear.

What is microphlebectomy?For medium and certain small veins, after image guided mapping, tiny “stabs” or “nicks” in the skin (the size of an intravenous needle) are used to selectively remove the veins.

What is the first step towards smoother, less painful legs?Schedule a consultation with a specialist at The Vein Institute by calling 401.432.2400. You and the interventional radiologist can decide together which procedure is appropriate.

Female

AfterBefore

Male

Before After

At the Vein Institute at Rhode Island Medical Imaging, your vein therapy is performed by an interventional radiologist with special training to perform interventional procedures. They are members of a highly skilled group of physicians who have broad-based subspecialty training in all areas of diagnostic imaging and vascular medicine.

Facts about varicose veinsBoth men and women may experience the discomfort and embarrassment of varicose veins and spider veins. In women, pregnancy often initiates or worsens the condition. Varicose veins, though often described as “cosmetic”, are a true medical condition warranting care. Because of this, varicose vein therapy is covered by most insurance companies.