Making vein health and treatment easy to understand

Earlier this spring, Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen spoke with the Portland Press Herald about what causes varicose veins, who is at the most risk for getting them, and ways to prevent vein problems from getting worse.

Click here to read the Press Herald story.

Dr. Asbjornsen also explained some options for treatment that is less invasive and less painful. Click here to read more.

The article also gives readers a chance to know Dr. Asbjornsen a little bit better, such as her passion for education and for treating people with vein issues:

Although she rarely deals with life-or-death maladies, Asbjornsen takes pride and satisfaction in helping patients take simple steps that can give them back their lives.

‘Really, treating veins is all about quality of life,’ Asbjornsen said.

Learn more about Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen, or visit the Vein Healthcare Center in South Portland, Maine for a complete vein health evaluation.

What is tumescent anesthesia?

Before we explain what tumescent anesthesia is, let’s talk about when it would be used in vein care.

Endovenous thermal ablation (using laser or radio frequency) is considered the gold standard in treatment of the great and small saphenous veins, two veins that are often the source of varicose veins in the lower leg.

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) uses laser energy to create an intense localized thermal reaction in the incompetent vein. The thermal energy causes vein to seal shut, stopping the healthy blood flow from entering the damaged vein. This keeps the blood flowing toward the heart, not allowing it to change directions and return to the feet. The body will reabsorb the damaged and treated vein, forcing the blood to be diverted to healthy veins in the leg.

EVLA is an outpatient, minimally invasive procedure performed with local anesthetic.

Part of the treatment involves tumescent anesthesia, a technique in which a high volume of a dilute local anesthetic is infiltrated around the vein. Tumescent anesthesia serves three purposes during thermal ablation. First, the fluid causes the vein walls to collapse around the thermal fiber maximizing contact. Second, the fluid creates an insulating ring around the vein and thermal energy source. This protects all surrounding tissues, including nerves and muscles, thus stopping any type of collateral damage. The third function is as an anesthetic, keeping the patient comfortable during the procedure. 

The introduction of tumescent anesthesia into the body should not be painful but can be when administered by some physicians. Thus, before any vein treatment, consult with a board certified phlebologist who can provide a full understanding of all aspects of the procedure.

To learn more about this and other current topics in vein healthcare, click here. And if you’re interested in a free subscription to Vein Health News, just click here.

New alternatives in vein treatment

More and more people — doctors and the general public alike — know that so-called “vein stripping” is an antiquated treatment for varicose veins. Endovenous laser

therapy has been considered the gold standard in vein treatment for more than 20 years, but physicians in the field of phlebology are always seeking new, better techniques. The best vein specialists don’t stand still!

EVLA uses laser or radio frequency waves to create an intense localized thermal reaction in the incompetent vein. The thermal energy causes the vein to seal shut, stopping the healthy blood flow from entering the damaged vein, which keeps the blood flowing toward the heart properly.

In the latest issue of Vein Health News, we look at three non-thermal, non-tumescent vein treatments that are on the horizon. Simply put, “NTNT” modalities are newer procedures that do not require laser energy or radio waves, nor tumescent anesthesia.

To learn more about this and other current topics in vein healthcare, click here. And if you’re interested in a free subscription to Vein Health News, just click here.

Education is an important first step toward better vein health and an improved quality of life.

Aesthetic reasons, medical care

In vein care, we understand that people seek vein treatment for many reasons—discomfort, pain, and often, aesthetic reasons. But it’s important to remember that treatments for spider veins or varicose veins, as minimally invasive as they may be, are still medical procedures.

That’s why it’s important to be informed and go to a provider who is Board certified. The American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine (ABVLM), formerly the American Board of Phlebology, was established in 2007 to improve the standards of medical practitioners and the quality of patient care related to the treatment of venous disorders and all aspects of venous disease.

The ABVLM also offers a Board Certification Exam, which ensures that physicians who specialize in phlebology (vein care) have met rigorous standards of education, experience, and evaluation. 

We came across this useful article called “Groupon Dos and Don’ts,” which shares tips on what to do before purchasing a “daily deal”-style coupon for medi-spa services. The best tip: do your research.

Looking for a place to start? Visit www.veinhealthcare.com, which offers a wealth of practical, easy-to-understand information.

Compression Before Laser Treatment

For years, patients suffering from varicose veins and other vein conditions had few options for treatment. Now, endovenous ablation, or EVLA for short, is considered the gold standard in vein treatment. EVLA is minimally invasive procedure that is done on an outpatient basis, and recovery time for most people is very quick.

Graduated compression stockings play an essential role before and after vein treatments, including EVLA. Anyone that undergoes EVLA, sclerotherapy or other treatments for venous insufficiency must wear graduated compression stockings immediately following the procedure and during the recovery period. What some may not realize is that there are reasons to wear compression before treatment too.

Before a vein procedure, wearing compression stockings gives a person a snapshot of what vein health feels like. Since compression alleviates symptoms, it becomes easier for a phlebologist (vein specialist) to tease out, or confirm whether the leg pain is due to muscular-skeletal issues, the nervous system, or venous disease. Another benefit to wearing compression prior to treatment is that it’s good to confirm that the patient can tolerate stockings, and/or that the stockings fit properly. (After the procedure is the worst time to discover that the stockings don’t fit!)

Alternatively, many who think that they could never tolerate compression stockings try on a modern stocking and find them quite bearable. Since compression prevents the progression of vein disease and controls symptoms, some people may even decide to take a more conservative approach, rather than proceed with definitive treatment.