Vein Disorders
Vein problems can range from unsightly and uncomfortable varicose veins to life-threatening blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT). The vein specialists at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital treat all types of vein problems, offering the latest therapies to restore your health and comfort.
Varicose Veins and Spider Veins
If you have varicose veins or spider veins, you might be concerned about the way they look. Or perhaps you no longer want to live with discomfort such as aching, throbbing, swelling, itching, or heaviness in your legs. If you've decided it's time to do something about your varicose veins, come to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist. From laser therapy to sclerotherapy and microphlebectomy, we customize a plan of treatment for your varicose veins. When nonsurgical treatments such as compression stockings or lifestyle changes fail to work, you may have:
- Sclerotherapy. For small varicose veins or spider veins, we can inject a medication (sclerosant) that irritates the lining of the vein and causes it to close or collapse.
- Ablation treatments. With minimally invasive endovenous laser ablation (also known as endovenous laser therapy or EVLT), we seal the abnormal vein closed by applying a small laser. We also offer VNUS Closure radiofrequency ablation to treat varicose veins using intense heat. These procedures each take about an hour, and you can return to your usual level of activity almost immediately.
- Microphlebectomy. We use this procedure, performed using local anesthesia, to remove visible varicose veins through small "microincisions" that do not require stitches. You may have this treatment if you have larger varicose veins that may be challenging to treat using other methods. We often perform microphlebectomy in combination with endovenous laser therapy.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
The prompt and effective treatment of DVT (blood clots in the deep veins, typically in the legs) is vital to prevent pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that travels to the lungs) or "post-thrombotic syndrome" (permanent vein damage which can cause varicose veins, pain, swelling, and, in some cases, skin ulcers). If you have DVT that cannot be treated successfully with medication or rest and compression alone, our vascular specialists can use vascular techniques to remove the blood clot. The surgeon inserts a catheter (thin tube) into the vein and introduces a device to break up the clot while delivering blot-busting medication.
Venous Insufficiency and Venous Ulcers
Venous insufficiency develops when the valves in the veins in your legs are damaged or are not working properly. People who have had venous insufficiency for a long time, without treatment, sometimes develop open sores in the skin called venous ulcers. We use the least invasive treatment possible to treat your venous insufficiency or venous ulcers.
- We begin with compression stockings, lifestyle changes such as exercise, and medications and topical skin treatments (for venous ulcers).
If these treatments don't work, you may have a minimally invasive procedure to improve the function of the veins causing ulcers. We typically perform these procedures without having to make any incisions—just a small needle stick with local anesthesia. We may use catheters, balloons, stents, or radiofrequency or laser therapy to treat the abnormal veins and restore proper blood flow. These procedures improve the rate of ulcer healing and help keep the ulcers from coming back.