Ultrasound to Detect Vein Disease

Duplex ultrasound (DUS) has become the gold standard for evaluating signs and symptoms of venous insufficiency. The test can be performed in 20-60 minutes directly in the office to provide information on vein disease and vein reflux. The examination is best performed by a registered ultrasound technician for accuracy and quality. A proper vein specialists in NJ should also be knowledgeable in both the performance and reading of venous ultrasound. It is recommended that symptomatic patients with leg pain or leg swelling who have physical findings consistent with CEAP stages 2-6 undergo clinical evaluation with duplex ultrasound for detection of chronic venous insufficiency. For superficial venous evaluation, the primary veins that are evaluated on ultrasound include the GSV, SSV and their primary tributaries. The ultrasound should be performed with pulse wave doppler using a linear 7.5-10MHz transducer. The end goal is to identify incompetent truncal veins and perforator veins. The deep system should also be carefully evaluated to exclude any disease. The vein specialists NJ utilize modern guidelines from the American College of Phlebology to ensure proper performance and documentation of exams. The exam is generally performed in the standing position, though reverse trendelenburge can be also considered in patients vulnerable to vagal episodes or dizziness with prolonged standing. During examination, the veins are evaluated for size, wall characteristics, debris, and vein reflux. The venous reflux portion is measured with pulse wave doppler and is assisted by augmentation maneuvers. Venous blood flow is characterized by movement of blood towards the heart and any incompetent valves can be detected by abnormal reflux or regurgitation exceeding 500 milliseconds on doppler ultrasound. Vein doctors in New Jersey are expected to review these results prior to vein treatment recommendations. Vein Clinics in New Jersey will recommend treatment based on symptoms and ultrasound findings that are consistent. Insurance coverage for vein treatment in New Jersey is carrier specific and should be discussed in detail with the vein doctor New Jersey before proceeding. Duplex ultrasound is also just as important in the follow up after vein treatment for varicose veins. Radiofrequency ablation and sclerotherapy are effective methods to cure spider veins and varicose veins, however duplex ultrasound permits post treatment monitoring for effectiveness and safe outcomes, such as excluding endovenous heat induced thrombosis (EHIT) from ablation. There are 4 stages of EHIT that are closely examined in the post procedure follow up ultrasound. As such, DUS is required for diagnosis, pre-treatment planning, and follow up after vein treatment with radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation , sclerotherapy and venaseal. Article Source:https://centralnjveinclinic.weebly.com/blog/ultrasound-to-detect-vein-disease

Do Varicose Veins Itch?

If you are seeking care from a vein doctor for itchy varicose veins, you can be certain that you are not the only one. While many think that varicose veins are purely cosmetic, vein disease can have many manifestations. Varicose veins are just one symptom of a more serious underlying issue--chronic venous insufficiency. The itchy feeling patients experience from varicose veins is a more advanced symptom and suggest inflammation at the level of the skin. These symptoms don’t happen overnight and thus it's important to seek early vein evaluations.
And while the cosmetic issues can be covered and even suppressed with compression socks and long pants, the feelings associated with venous insufficiency can become unbearable for many individuals. These symptoms include itchy veins, swollen legs, leg fatigue, leg cramps, leg pain and skin discoloration.

Why Do Varicose Veins Itch?
Varicose veins develop because of chronic venous insufficiency. In this condition, truncal or superficial veins become dysfunctional. This can result from many different causes including employment or lifestyles that lead to prolonged periods of standing or sitting, obesity, smoking, pregnancy are common associated issues. Genetics plays the largest role and many patients will identify parents or siblings with varicose veins.

In chronic venous insufficiency, the circulation becomes impaired in the superficial veins. The veins are dilated and the valves become dysfunctional unable to keep blood from refluxing (or falling back down) with gravity. Unlike deep veins, there is no significant muscle or tissue to prevent the veins from dilating further and worsening the problem.

This poor circulation effort leads to blood to pool in the legs and cause symptoms of venous insufficiency. Spider and varicose veins result from the over-distended veins that cause new , diseased veins to form.

As the situation worsens with time, the continued pooling of blood becomes chronically irritated and inflammatory to the walls of the veins and the surrounding tissue. This includes the skin which can become eczematous, itchy and discolored. Untreated this condition can lead to venous stasis changes or permanently discolored and eczematous. In the most serious cases, skin ulcers (CEAP 5 and 6), infections and bleeding can occur.

How to treat itchy varicose veins?
The eczema that results from venous insufficiency needs early treatment. Moisturizers and steroids can help resolve very irritated skin, but the key is to treat the underlying issue to prevent chronic insults on the skin.
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Fortunately, these treatments are readily available and can be done with relative ease in the hands of the best vein doctors. Modern treatments are minimally-invasive and catheter based technologies that eliminate the need for surgical removal of veins. Combination treatments with foam sclerotherapy or ambulatory phlebectomy can eliminate some of the most unsightly varicose veins once the underlying issue is resolved. If you are seeking expert venous care, make sure you see a board-certified vein specialist as soon as possible.

Article Source:

http://southjerseyveincenter.mystrikingly.com/blog/do-varicose-veins-itch

Pregnancy and Varicose Veins

Many women first develop varicose veins or find that they get worse during pregnancy before coming to seeing the best vein clinic near me. This is particularly true for women carrying twins or during subsequent pregnancies. You may have little or no discomfort from varicose veins, or they may make your legs feel heavy and achy. The skin around a varicose vein may also itch, throb, or feel like it’s burning. The symptoms tend to be worse at the end of the day, especially if you’ve been on your feet a lot.
Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but it also slows the blood flow from the legs to the pelvis. This change in circulation is designed to support the growing fetus and prepare the body for labor and delivery, however it can produce the unfortunate side effect of enlarged veins in your legs.
You may have also noticed tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin, especially on your ankles, legs, or face. These are called spider veins because they spread out like tiny tree branches and appear as a network of small red or blue veins.

The good news is that varicose veins tend to improve after you give birth, especially if you didn’t have any before you got pregnant. However, patients with pre-existing vein disease, family history, and multiple pregnancies often notice little or no improvement. These patients should be evaluated by a varicose vein treatment center.

What can I do to prevent varicose veins?



You may be able to prevent, or at least minimize, varicose veins while you’re pregnant if you:

· Exercise daily—the key is to allow the blood in your body to circulate. Don’t stand or sit too long in the same position.


· Stay within the recommended weight range for your stage of pregnancy.
· Elevate your feet and legs to the level of your heart or higher whenever possible.
· Avoid crossing your legs or ankles when sitting. This tends to further slow down the circulation of blood.
An additional and helpful habit is to wear compression stockings during the day. When you wear compression stockings your veins are supported and enable the blood to flow more effectively. The external pressure improves blood flow by compressing refluxing veins and redistributing flow to the healthier parts of your venous system. In doing so, it can help to keep swelling down and reduce the achiness in your legs.
Are varicose veins in pregnancy serious?
Varicose veins may itch or hurt, and they can be cosmetically displeasing, but they’re generally harmless during the pregnancy. It is generally not advisable to receive treatment for varicose veins during pregnancy that involves any incisions or injections; however, notify your OB/GYN or vein specialist NJ for early evaluation. The diagnosis is simple and harmless utilizing ultrasound technology. The same technology used to evaluate the health of your baby during the pregnancy. Vein Treatment, if needed, can usually be postponed until after you have your baby.
What are my options after pregnancy?
Varicose veins often improve within a few months after giving birth, though sometimes it takes even longer.
If your varicose veins persist, become too uncomfortable, or you’re just unhappy with how they look, an evaluation with a vein treatment center is recommended. Make sure you are seeing only the top NJ vein doctor that can help you navigate your treatment options. Vein treatment options should be non-surgical and include only the latest advancements with radiofrequency ablation, sclerotherapy (including Varithena), and Venaseal.


Article Source: https://centralnjveinclinic.weebly.com/blog/pregnancy-and-varicose-veins

Your Guide to Choose the Best Vein Doctor

Varicose veins are a common problem and affects nearly 25% of the US population.  Most affected individuals are essentially asymptomatic and do not need to pursue any specific treatments. Instead, simple wellness measures including exercise, compression stockings, leg elevation when appropriate and smoking cessation.  However, for those with symptoms including leg pain, leg heaviness, itchy or discolored skin, and restless legs that are affecting their quality of life despite conservative measures, a vein evaluation is recommended. The goal is to find the best vein doctor Mount Laurel NJ to help you manage your symptoms and offer treatment alternatives that match your symptoms and can be done without disruption to your normal routine.  So let’s begin with some advice on selecting which doctor is best for you from your internet search:

1. Be certain that your vein doctor is board-certified and “trained” in vascular treatments.  So this goes beyond a piece of paper indicating completion of some test , but also informs you that the vein specialist completed a formal residency or fellowship in endovascular treatments.  
2. Vein evaluation is a must!  If you have no symptoms but are concerned about cosmetics, you do not need endovascular treatments.  Vein ablation is best suited to manage symptoms of venous insufficiency.  Receiving unnecessary treatments is not to your advantage and instead focus should be on cosmetic treatments available including laser or cosmetic sclerotherapy.
3. If you are having treatment for venous insufficiency, the most advanced techniques are endovascular ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and venaseal.  In some cases, MOCA or mechanochemical ablation can also be considered. Stripping is an older technique and is no longer the preferred or best treatment for underlying vein disease.  It has a higher level of complications and is less effective
4. Phlebectomy is still very useful for large protruding veins that are not suitable for ablation or sclerotherapy.  In fact, treating large protuberant veins with sclerotherapy can lead to longer healing periods with sometimes long lasting cosmetic skin discoloration.  Phlebectomy is a fast and efficient tool to eliminate large varicose veins without any large incisions.  

The above factors focus on being certain on the qualifications of your vein doctor and the breadth of their skills to offer various treatment solutions tailored to your symptoms, anatomy, and vein presentation.  The other qualities are more abstract and are the individual feeling you get about your interaction with the staff and vein specialist.   Being given appropriate time and patience to your questions and concerns reflects on how much value the vein clinic places on the individuals care.   We often see high volume centers in multiple settings that emphasize getting as many tasks done in one day, rather than focusing on quality. If you feel less than satisfied with the interactions, it’s very reasonable to consider a different vein clinic even if you have to travel extra miles.   Just remember if you can’t get the time and answers to your questions, what is the likelihood you will see the time and commitment given to your vein treatment. Getting high level care is difficult because the experience of vein doctor NJ is so variable and due to financial constraints, many clinics today are trying to fit as many cases in a limited daily schedule.  Something has to give and that generally is quality. The final results will make the extra commute worthwhile and that level of expertise can only be delivered by the very best vein clinics committed to continuing education, investment into new technology, and you the patient for time.

Article Source: 

https://southjerseyveincenter.home.blog/2020/01/09/your-guide-to-choose-the-best-vein-doctor/

Spider vein treatment centers--Are they all created equal?

Today, there are several different options for treating or even covering up spider veins.  In a separate article, we will discuss our favorite techniques for DIY cover up methods for spider veins on the legs.  In this article, we want to discuss the medical options for spider vein removal and provide some guidance on how to find the best spider vein treatments in NJ.  Before we begin, we want to emphasisze the importance of thinking beyond the surface of the skin and the spider veins we see. We also need to think about the veins we do not see but will not only result in future spider veins, but also cause symptoms.  These medical symptoms include leg cramps, leg pain, swelling, skin discoloration, and leg ulcerations. With these symptoms, patients need to seek out medical professionals to evaluate for underlying venous insufficiency.  This condition should be addressed prior to any cosmetic procedures for spider veins as it improves the circulation and prevents long term issues.  

The options for spider vein treatment using medical treatment include

1. Cosmetic sclerotherapy-- this is generally the preferred treatment by vein doctors for most types of veins.  The few exceptions are matted veins (very wispy, small veins in small tight gatherings), facial spider veins and those on the feet.  Spider veins on the legs are preferably injected with medical agents such as polidocanol or STS with great effect.  The procedure is office based and can take 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on the severity. In some cases, ultrasound or veinlites can assist the vein doctor with targeting all veins.   In the initial 2 weeks, the veins may appear reddened and inflammed, but will subsequently begin to fade over the next 4 weeks. Most patients achieve a 50-60% improvement with a single injection and will  need two or three sessions for 80% improvement.  
2. Laser treatment--this is done by either the physician or one of the technicians.  It requires directed a focused beam of light on the target veins. It cannot penetrate much beyond the skin, so its mostly reserved for surface spider veins rather than varicose or reticular veins (blue, or green veins often seen next to spider veins and can be referred to as feeder veins). Laser is preferred for the face and feet where the skin texture is not ideal for sclerotherapy injections.

Where should I go for spider vein removal?

In either case, it’s probably best to visit with a dedicated varicose vein doctor near me to determine the best vein treatment for you.  At a comprehensive vein treatment center, appropriate testing such as ultrasound can be performed to determine any underlying medical conditions and possibly insurance coverage for treatment.  A vein doctor can also give you an honest answer about what vein treatment is best suited for your condition. A vein expert can be trusted to provide full assessments of which treatment modality is likely to be effective in different parts of your body as well as the various types of veins you might have.  Of note, spider vein treatment nj cost are not likely to vary significantly between a vein clinic and medical spas.  While some laser treatments can be slightly cheaper, it’s more important to see the value of the procedure in terms of a) who will be the one performing the procedure? b) what medication will be used if cosmetic sclerotherapy? c) how much medication or time will the procedure take?  At typical vein clinics, the cost of a 30 minute session for spider vein removal is $350-$750 depending on the experience and medications used. Like many other cosmetic procedures, cheaper is not likely to be equal where experience and skill counts.

Varicose veins are abnormal swollen veins present both on the surface and beneath the surface of the skin.  In contrast, spider veins are smaller, red or purple blood vessels that are <1 mm in diameter and have a web-like appearance.  Both conditions can be related to venous insufficiency prompting a visit to Long Island Vein Clinic.

 

What creates Varicose Veins problems?

The normal function of leg veins is to bring blood back to the heart.  With activity, the calf muscles function as a pump, to circulate blood back from the legs toward the heart.  The same blood vessels have one-way valves that protect against blood from reversing back due to gravity. If the valves are faulty, this mechanism fails and blood collects in the lower legs resulting in venous insufficiency. This abnormal flow is referred to as reflux and with time builds up pressure in the legs to cause symptoms including abnormal spider and varicose veins.

 

Who is at risk of Varicose Vein disease?

There are various risk factors associated with varicose veins. These dangers include a family history of varicose veins, obesity, pregnancy, hormonal adjustments at menopause, a job that requires prolonged standing or sitting, and even previous trauma.

 

What are the symptoms of varicose veins?

The most common symptoms from varicose veins are 1) Leg heaviness 2) leg cramps 3) restless legs 4) fatigue 5) skin eczema 6) skin ulceration (rare) 7) DVT (rare) 8) Leg swelling.

 

Varicose Vein Therapy:

Some home remedies including witch hazel, horse chestnut extract, and CBD can have a relieving effect.  However, they do not reverse the condition. 

Compression stockings are the standard of early treatment once the diagnosis is suspected or confirmed by venous ultrasound.  The external compression provides circumferential support to the dilated veins and improves blood flow through graded pressure.  

Permanent and more effective varicose vein center near me offer vein ablation, sclerotherapy, varithena and venaseal. These treatments are medical in nature and require consultation with a vein specialist to determine necessity.  Modern vein treatments are minimally invasive and can be performed in the office without long recovery periods or anesthesia.  

Is it Safe to Remove Veins?

If you’ve considered having your problem varicose or spider veins treated, you may have read that all the treatments result in the bad veins being essentially blocked off and removed, causing blood to be rerouted elsewhere.

Treatments like sclerotherapy and ablation eliminate the unhealthy portion of your veins. The best vein doctors in NJ perform these procedures with relative ease and safety.

But do you need those veins?

To take a vein out of your circulatory system might sound severe but our bodies are wonderfully resilient. The varicose veins or spider veins are diseased and are no longer performing their job. In treating them, our body finds alternative pathways and uses healthy veins to carry blood. And don’t worry, you’ll never run out of healthy veins.

There are two major treatments for spider veins on the legs:

Sclerotherapy:

This approach uses visual inspection or ultrasound imaging technology to visualize the patient’s vascular system and target the desired spider veins for removal. After the patient’s veins are mapped, a vein specialist injects the varicose veins with the solution while the physician monitors the procedure in real-time to guide the placement of the syringe and target the correct vein.

Laser treatment:

Laser treatment for spider veins is primarily intended to treat surface, tiny veins that can be difficult to cannulate with a needle. While sclerotherapy can treat a wider range of spider and reticular veins, laser treatments for spider veins remain popular. They are now offered at multiple Princeton vein treatment centers and medical spas. It’s still best to to stick with a board-certified vein specialist in NJ for treatment of spider veins. 

Article Source:

https://njvaricoseveins.kinja.com/is-it-safe-to-remove-veins-1840030921

Treatment of Hand Veins

Increasingly, veins in the hands are becoming popular among aesthetic treatments.  However, in light of the complex arterial and venous anatomy of the hand, its imperative that such treatment be only considered in the hands of specialized vein doctors in NJ. 

Treatment options for undesired veins in the hands include sclerotherapy and ambulatory phlebectomy.

With sclerotherapy, the target vein is directly injected with either polidocanol or STS.  Foam sclerotherapy may be preferred for best vein treatment effect.  Compression therapy pos treatment is advised, however is done with elastic bandages for 48 hours without interruption.  

Ambulatory phlebectomy is also performed for hand vein treatments.  Under sterile technique and local anesthesia, a small Mueller hook is used to exteriorize the target vein similar to varicose veins in the legs.  Post procedure, compression is similar to sclerotherapy.  With either sclerotherapy or ambulatory phlebectomy, the main side effect is bruising and swelling.

Article Source: https://southjerseyveinclinic.weebly.com/blog/treatment-of-hand-veins