Varicose veins — you know them when you see them. Bulging, crooked, and purple or blue in color, they are unsightly at best. Varicose veins are common, but they could be a symptom of a larger problem: chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).
CVI is a progressive condition that disrupts the flow of blood from the legs back to the heart. Left untreated, CVI can result in pain, leg heaviness or fatigue, cramps, itchiness, swollen limbs and even ulcers.
But the good news is that help is close to home. Northern Nevada Medical Group (NNMG) surgeon Wynter Phoenix, MD is trained in the minimally invasive Venefit® procedure for CVI, using the ClosureFast™ catheter.
What is the Venefit Procedure?
Venefit is a minimally invasive segmental radiofrequency (RF) ablation treatment. Simply put, it closes off those non-functioning veins to promote blood flow through the healthy, well-functioning veins.
Ablation is a procedure in which a physician applies heat to tissue, creating scar tissue. With Venefit, this scar tissue keeps the vein closed so that a healthy vein can take over the blood flow. Venefit uses RF energy to create the heat, which is applied through the ClosureFast catheter.
How Does Venefit Work?
This quick outpatient procedure doesn’t even require any anesthesia. . The technique is minimally invasive because it closes damaged veins through a single, small incision, about the equivalent to receiving a small IV injection. Using ultrasound technology, the physician inserts the ClosureFast catheter into the vein through the incision.
The catheter delivers the RF energy heat to the vein wall, causing the vein to shrink around the catheter. This causes the vein to close and your body naturally reroutes the blood to other, healthy veins. Just one, 20-second interval is required to heat seven centimeters of a vein.
When the procedure is complete, the physician bandages the insertion site, and compression may be necessary to speed healing. The physician may ask you to walk around immediately after the procedure. However, vigorous activities like standing for long periods of time should be avoided for a at least one to two weeks.
Why Venefit?
Until Venefit, traditional CVI treatment involved painful vein stripping or endovenous laser ablation. Vein stripping is performed through multiple incisions in the groin and calf. Endovenous laser ablation may be minimally invasive, but if the wall of the vein is perforated during the procedure, patients may experience increased bruising and pain.
Compared to traditional CVI treatments, Venefit patients tend to experience less pain, bruising and scarring, and enjoy quicker recoveries with fewer complications. Most patients report improved symptoms within days. Many insurance companies provide full or partial coverage for the procedure.
Help is Right Here
Dr. Wynter Phoenix, of Northern Nevada Medical Group, is specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of CVI. He offers the Venefit procedure at Northern Nevada Medical Center. The procedure takes just a few minutes and is relatively painless.
About Dr. Phoenix
Wynter N. Phoenix, MD, is board certified in general surgery. He earned his medical degree in 2007 from Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana. He went on to complete his general surgical residency at University Medical Center, University of Arizona, in Tucson, Arizona.
Dr. Phoenix has written several research papers and received honors and awards. He also belongs to professional societies including Alpha Omega Alpha and Black Bag Medicine Foundation.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Phoenix, please call 775-356.4888.
Information is provided for educational purposes only, and is not intended to constitute medical advice or to be relied upon for the treatment of any particular condition. If you have concerns or questions about specific symptoms that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider.
Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Northern Nevada Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.