26, 9, 2023

Precise Relief: Exploring Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation for vascular wellness

2023-08-31T18:32:31-07:00

Precise Relief: Exploring Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation for vascular wellness

In the realm of advanced vascular treatments, Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation is revolutionizing the way we address vein issues. In this article, we delve into the intricacies of this procedure, exploring its benefits, the process it involves, and what you can anticipate on the day of treatment. Join us on a journey to understand how Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation can enhance your vascular well-being.

Understanding Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation: A Breakdown

Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation focuses on perforator veins, the short connections bridging deep and superficial veins. These veins, like others, can experience valve damage and venous reflux, contributing to discomfort and potential health risks. This innovative procedure aims to rectify these issues, offering relief and improved vascular health.

Why Perforator Veins Matter

Perforator veins are pivotal in linking the superficial and deep venous systems within the extremities. They facilitate the flow of blood from superficial veins to deep veins, aiding in the process of returning oxygen-depleted blood to the heart. However, when the valves in these veins malfunction, venous reflux can occur. This may lead to blood buildup, increased pressure, and complications such as edema, skin discoloration, dermatitis, and skin ulcers.

The Treatment Process: Unveiling the Steps

Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation is a well-structured outpatient procedure, designed to swiftly address these issues. Here’s a closer look at the treatment process:

  • Preparation and Anesthesia: The procedure commences with the application of local anesthesia. Some patients opt for mild oral sedatives like Valium for enhanced relaxation.
  • Patient Comfort: You’ll be provided with a gown or shorts and positioned for comfort, with special accommodations made based on your needs.
  • Guidance and Insertion: Using ultrasound guidance, a fine needle is inserted into the perforating vein through the skin.
  • Radiofrequency Energy: The magic happens with the delivery of radiofrequency energy, which shrinks the perforator vein and eliminates abnormal flow.
  • Treatment Duration: Approximately 10 minutes are allotted for each perforating vein. Patients may have one or multiple veins treated in the same leg, requiring about an hour in the office due to preparation and setup.

A Day of Treatment: What to Expect

perforatorperforator

On the day of your procedure, a few steps ensure your comfort and well-being:

  • Anesthesia and Sedation: Local anesthesia is applied. Some opt for mild sedation to enhance relaxation.
  • Positioning: Special accommodations are made based on your comfort level, and you’re given the choice to watch Netflix or listen to music.
  • Ultrasound Mapping: Your veins are mapped, and numbing agents are injected.
  • Radiofrequency Catheter: A tiny puncture is made to insert the radiofrequency catheter.
  • Local Anesthetic: Additional local anesthetic is administered, numbing the vein and ensuring comfort.
  • Radiofrequency Treatment: The vein is painlessly treated with radiofrequency energy.
  • Post-Treatment Care: A compression stocking is applied, and walking is encouraged for the next 72 hours.

Post-Treatment Care: Guiding Your Recovery

After treatment, walking for 30 minutes twice daily is recommended to alleviate discomfort and prevent blood pooling in the legs. Avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, saunas, hot tubs, and leg massages for two weeks to support proper healing.

Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation is a modern marvel in vascular care, offering relief from discomfort and enhancing overall well-being. At La Jolla Vein & Vascular, our expert medical professionals are dedicated to providing personalized care for your vascular health. By embracing innovative treatments like Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation, you can take confident strides towards a healthier, more vibrant life.

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Amanda Steinberger, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link, and our website https://ljvascular.com

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency,

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

For more blogs and educational content, please check out our clinic’s blog posts! 

Precise Relief: Exploring Radiofrequency Perforator Ablation for vascular wellness2023-08-31T18:32:31-07:00

21, 6, 2023

RFA 101

2023-05-24T16:52:43-07:00

Radiofrequency perforator ablation  (RFA) is performed on perforator veins, short connections between your deep and superficial veins. Perforator veins can suffer the same sort of valve damage and retrograde blood flow (venous reflux) as other veins. Most patients with vein disease who experience skin changes, (that also may result in leg ulcers if left untreated) have reflux in perforator veins near their ulcers, as well as in the superficial or deep veins.

RFA

 

What are Perforator Veins?

Perforator veins serve as connections between the two networks of veins in the extremities, the superficial venous system and the deep venous system. Perforators connect the two parallel systems, and normally drain blood from the superficial veins to the deep veins as part of the process of returning oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.

Perforator veins have one-way valves designed to prevent backflow of blood down towards the superficial veins. When those valves no longer function properly and reflux occurs, the buildup of blood and pressure can cause not only the superficial veins but the perforators themselves to become incompetent. Perforator veins in the lower leg and ankle are particularly vulnerable to distention and incompetence, and the resultant circulatory problems create an increased likelihood of edema, skin discoloration, dermatitis and skin ulcers in the immediate area.

Your doctor may have recommended RFA treatment of your perforator vein(s)  because it is contributing to:

  • Venous leg ulcers
  • Pre-ulcerative skin changes
  • Persistent or recurrent varicose veins
  • Leg pain
  • Leg swelling

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link, and our website https://ljvascular.com

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency,

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 

For more blogs and educational content, please check out our clinic’s blog posts! 



RFA 1012023-05-24T16:52:43-07:00

19, 4, 2023

Radiofrequency Ablation for perforator vein reflux

2023-02-15T15:55:23-08:00

Radiofrequency perforator ablation is performed on perforator veins, short connections between your deep and superficial veins. Perforator veins can suffer the same sort of valve damage and retrograde blood flow (venous reflux) as other veins. Most patients with vein disease who experience skin changes, (that also may result in leg ulcers if left untreated) have reflux in perforator veins near their ulcers, as well as in the superficial or deep veins.

Perforator

What are Perforator Veins?

Perforator veins serve as connections between the two networks of veins in the extremities, the superficial venous system and the deep venous system. Perforators connect the two parallel systems, and normally drain blood from the superficial veins to the deep veins as part of the process of returning oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.

Perforator veins have one-way valves designed to prevent backflow of blood down towards the superficial veins. When those valves no longer function properly and reflux occurs, the buildup of blood and pressure can cause not only the superficial veins but the perforators themselves to become incompetent. Perforator veins in the lower leg and ankle are particularly vulnerable to distention and incompetence, and the resultant circulatory problems create an increased likelihood of edema, skin discoloration, dermatitis and skin ulcers in the immediate area.

Perforator

Your doctor may have recommended treatment of your perforator vein(s) because it is contributing to:

  • Venous leg ulcers
  • Pre-ulcerative skin changes
  • Persistent or recurrent varicose veins
  • Leg pain
  • Leg swelling

 

“Bringing Experts Together for Unparalleled Vein and Vascular Care”

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 

Please follow our social media Instagram Profile and Tik Tok Profile for more fun videos and educational information. 


Radiofrequency Ablation for perforator vein reflux2023-02-15T15:55:23-08:00

14, 11, 2022

Radiofrequency Treatment for Varicose Veins

2022-10-24T11:00:17-07:00

At La Jolla Vein and Vascular, we use a special procedure called radiofrequency treatment for varicose veins. This treatment uses a radiofrequency energy to heat up the wall of the vein. This treatment is used for varicose veins. Varicose veins develop when valves in the veins are damaged and this causes the veins to bulge or twist and stand out in the legs. Radiofrequency ablation treatment closes off the blood flow in the vein that causes the varicose veins. 

Radiofrequency Ablation for Saphenous Vein Reflux 

Why was I offered an endovenous radiofrequency ablation procedure? 

Most patients who are offered a radiofrequency ablation procedure is for backwards flow (or reflux) in the saphenous vein(s). The great and small saphenous veins are the two main superficial veins of the leg. They run along the inner leg and the back of the leg, respectively. This minimally invasive procedure can be performed in the office in less than an hour and patients return to their usual level of activity the same day. 

How does the treatment work?

The skin is numbed with lidocaine, then a tiny wire and the Closurefast catheter are inserted into the vein. The catheter delivers radio-frequency energy to the vein wall, causing it to seal shut. The remaining healthy veins continue to bring blood back to the heart. 

What should I expect on the day of treatment?

The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, but many patients elect to use a mild oral sedative (Valium), which is taken after checking in and completing all paperwork. You will change into a gown and leave underwear on. Depending on the vein to be treated, you will lay on your back or on your belly. We do our best to make special accommodations (for example, if you cannot lie flat or cannot bend a knee very well) with body positioning and using pillows. We will do our best to make you comfortable. Then, we will give you the option of watching a movie on Netflix or listen to music. Once you are comfortable, your leg will be prepped with a cleansing solution for the sterile procedure. The doctor will perform an ultrasound to map the vein to be treated. Then, a numbing agent (lidocaine) will be injected into the skin.

In the numb area of the skin, a tiny puncture is made to pass the radiofrequency catheter. Your doctor will then use a  needle to administer a combination of cool saline and local anesthetic around the vein either in the thigh or calf (depending on which vein is treated). This solution numbs the vein and insulates it from the surrounding tissue. After the numbing solution is applied, the vein is painlessly treated with radiofrequency energy. Once your vein has been treated, we will clean your leg and apply a compression stocking which you will wear for 72 hours continuously. You will walk for 30 minutes prior to getting in your car. 

What should I do after treatment? 

You should walk 30 minutes twice daily after treatment and move your legs frequently throughout the day with short walks and/or calf exercises. This will alleviate discomfort and avoid pooling of blood in the legs. Most of the numbing solution around the vein will be absorbed by your body within a few hours, but you may have a small amount of blood-tinged saline leak from your puncture site onto the gauze. In that case, just remove the gauze and roll your stockings back up. 

What should I avoid after treatment?

For at least two weeks after treatment, you should avoid airline travel to minimize pooling of blood in the legs. You should avoid strenuous exercise (anything more than a brisk walk), heavy lifting, saunas or hot tubs, and leg massages. All of these dilate the superficial veins and interfere with their healing. 

What are the possible adverse effects? 

Expect some bruising over the injection sites, which fades over about two weeks. The skin overlying larger varicose veins may also develop some temporary inflammation and/or brownish hyperpigmentation as the blood products within those veins are absorbed by the body. An uncommon complication is a blood clot within a deep vein.

Before and After Varicose Vein Treatment 

 

La Jolla Vein & Vascular (formerly La Jolla Vein Care) is committed to bringing experts together for unparalleled vein and vascular care. 

 

Nisha Bunke, MD, Sarah Lucas, MD, and Elliot DeYoung, MD are specialists who combine their experience and expertise to offer world-class vascular care. 

 

Our accredited center is also a nationally known teaching site and center of excellence. 

 

For more information on treatments and to book a consultation, please give our office a call at 858-550-0330. 

 

For a deeper dive into vein and vascular care, please check out our Youtube Channel at this link.

 

For more information on varicose veins and eliminating underlying venous insufficiency, check this link out full of resources. 


Radiofrequency Treatment for Varicose Veins2022-10-24T11:00:17-07:00

4, 4, 2014

Non-surgical Varicose Vein Removal

2021-11-04T13:10:44-07:00

Fortunately, Vein stripping surgery is a thing of the past. Modern varicose vein treatments are minimally-invasive with little pain or downtime.  There are different non-surgical treatment options offered at La Jolla Vein Care. The advantages of modern non-surgical treatments are that return to normal activities is almost immediate, there is little pain or bruising and there are no scars! The different non-surgical treatments that are used to eliminate varicose veins at La Jolla Vein Care include:

Before and After Varicose Vein Treatment

This young La Jolla Vein Care patient’s varicose veins were a result of an incompetent great saphenous vein. As a result, her treatment included radiofrequency closure of the great saphenous vein with foam sclerotherapy used to treat the surface bulging varicose veins.

Before and After Varicose Vein Treatment

This is another before and after picture of the same patient whose bulging varicose veins were removed without surgery at La Jolla Vein Care, utilizing radiofrequency and foam sclerotherapy treatments.

1) foam sclerotherapy, which uses an injection of a solution to collapse the vein, 2) radiofrequency ablation, which uses radiofrequency energy to heat and collapse the vein, 3) clarified or mechanochemical ablation which utilizes a small wire that spins while delivering a liquid solution to the vein and 4) microphlebectomy, which uses tiny incisions to remove the veins. More information can be found about each treatment type on our website.  The best treatment type depends on the size and locations of the veins affected and the patient preference.   Many times, a combination of treatments will be recommended.

 

Non-surgical Varicose Vein Removal2021-11-04T13:10:44-07:00
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© Copyright 2010-2024, La Jolla Vein & Vascular | All Rights Reserved

CONTACT INFORMATION

La Jolla/UTC

Vista

Patient Privacy Practices

Privacy Policy

Hippa Privacy Practices
HIPAAOneTM Certified Seal 2

Use the search features below to find articles and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease

TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO

La Jolla/ UTC

North County San Diego/ Vista — Endovascular Center
Now Open! Call/Text for Appointments

© Copyright 2010-2024, La Jolla Vein & Vascular | All Rights Reserved

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