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Do you have leg discomfort, pain or swelling? Do you have varicose veins?

You may already know more about varicose veins than you would like. Half of all Americans over 50 (and two-thirds of women over 60) suffer from the pain and swelling of those big ropey leg veins.

"The condition is caused by failing valves in the saphenous veins that allow blood to pool in the legs, and symptoms can range from aching and fatigue to skin ulcers", Dr. Glenn Mandeville, surgeon, UAP Clinic, said.

Women who have had more than two pregnancies are at particular risk, and heredity, weight, and careers that require standing throughout the day, like nursing or teaching, are risk factors as well.

In the 20th Century, the only surgical option for patients with severe varicose veins was a painful procedure called vein stripping that left the patient scarred and laid up for weeks. Today, however, we have medical technology to treat the problem with minimally invasive catheters that close the diseased vein from within. The physician pulls the device through the vein, delivering bursts of energy through the catheter's heating element to heat and contract the vein walls. With the saphenous vein sealed, the body re-establishes healthier circulation and the varicosity symptoms quickly dissipate.

The latest radiofrequency device, the VNUS® Closure catheter, operates at cooler temperatures, sealing the vein in three to five minutes with virtually no discomfort to the patient.

"The VNUS Closure procedure is minimally invasive and offers a fast, mild recovery. Typically, it allows you to resume normal activities within a week," Dr. Mandeville said.

Clinical studies have found the new procedure to be more than 97% effective, and because it is considered a medical necessity rather than a cosmetic procedure, it is covered by Medicare and private health insurance after a trial of other conservative therapies.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the UAP Clinic General, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery Department at (812) 242-3110.