Venous Stasis Ulcer
Venous Stasis Ulcer: the term may seem uncommon, but the problem certainly is not. Many people suffer with this disorder, which is caused by abnormal pressure in a vein close to the skin of the inner ankle. After a while, the skin breaks down and the person ends up with a big ulcerated spot, which worsens as time goes along. Up until now treatment has been very difficult, involving compression hose and heavy wraps, and venous stasis ulcers could only be cured by surgery. But the Vascular Vein and Laser Center in Claremore has introduced a treatment that has long been used to repair other venous disorders, but is just now being introduced in Oklahoma for the Venous Stasis Ulcer—the Closure Procedure.
“In the past we had to make an incision in the leg to tie off the vein causing the pressure,” says Dr. Hrdlicka. “The patient would have had to spend time in the hospital to recuperate. The Closure Procedure is done in our office, using only local anesthesia, and when we are finished, the patient is fully ambulatory.”
The Closure Procedure has previously been used on other disorders, like Venous Reflux Disease, with great success and is performed on an outpatient basis. With the guide of ultrasound, Dr. Hrdlicka will insert a Closure Catheter through an opening in the skin into the diseased vein. This tiny catheter deposits radiofrequency (RF) energy into the wall of the vein. As the catheter is withdrawn, the vein wall becomes hot, shrinking the collagen in the vein wall, thus closing the vein. The blood then bypasses the closed, diseased vein and is rerouted to healthy veins. The procedure is relatively painless and allows the typical patient not only to walk immediately following, but also to resume other normal activities within the day.
Venous Stasis Ulcers often crop up in people who have had other venous leg problems like clots and deep venous thromboses. Early stage signs are varicose veins, skin changes, dermatitis, and darkening of skin pigment around the ankles. But whether a Venous Stasis Ulcer is caught in its early or its most advanced stages, there is plenty that can be done to help with this new treatment. Best of all, most insurance companies will cover treatment of this problem, and the Vascular Vein and Laser Center deals with the majority of major insurance carriers.
If you suffer from Venous Stasis Ulcers or any other venous problems, like varicose veins or hemorrhoids, call today to discuss one of the many innovative treatment options that can help you get on the road to recovery.
For more information on The Closure Procedure, click here.
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