McLEOD VASCULAR SURGEON
OFFERS EDUCATION ON
VENOUS DISEASE
Carmen Piccolo, DO
McLeod Vascular Associates | McLeod Heart & Vascular Institute
V
enous disease is very common. It affects
more than 80 million people in the
United States. Around 80 percent of
the disease is genetic and usually someone else
in the family is also suffering from vein disease.
Symptoms of venous disease include: pain,
swelling, ulcers, itching, discoloration or
darkening of the skin, tired legs, and numbness
in the legs. While pregnancy, obesity, crossing
your legs and long periods of standing can
worsen your disease, they are not the cause.
In addition, the disease does not only occur in
women. It appears in a significant portion of
men as well.
What is Venous Disease?
Common types of venous disease include
varicose veins, spider veins, superficial venous
thrombophlebitis (SVT), venous ulcers and the
more serious deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
In total, these conditions make up chronic
venous disease (CVD).
Varicose veins are large veins that are blue or
red in color and occur both bulging and twisted
just under the skin and also deeper where they
are not as visible. Most are caused by damaged
valves located in the veins in your legs. These
damaged valves are responsible for causing a
“leaky vein.” When these valves fail, blood pools
in the veins in the lower leg creating a disease
called venous insufficiency. The symptoms will
worsen with gravity and pregnancy.
Spider veins are very small veins that appear on
the surface of the skin. They often occur with
varicose veins. While they are cosmetically
unpleasant, most do not cause discomfort.
Superficial venous thrombophlebitis is a blood
clot that occurs in a larger superficial vein, a
vein close to the surface of the body. These
cause pain, swelling and possibly a cord-like
vein can be felt in the affected area. While these
can produce symptoms, generally they are not
life-threatening.
Deep venous thrombosis is a serious health
issue. It is a dangerous blood clot that not only
causes severe pain and swelling, but also can
travel to the lungs and become life-threatening.
Venous ulcers are wounds that are usually
located on the inside of the leg just above the
ankle and represent the most advanced stages
of chronic venous disease.
What Are the Treatment Options?
At the McLeod Vein Clinic, the first step in the
assessment process is a consultation with a
vascular specialist. In most cases, this will
include a simple, painless ultrasound
examination to determine whether noninvasive
or more advanced treatment options are
needed for treating the venous disease.
Some of these noninvasive remedies include:
exercising, elevating your legs when ever
possible, losing weight if you are overweight,
wearing compression stockings or advanced
compression therapy.
Today’s cutting-edge technology offer safe and
effective w ays to treat venous disease, often
without major surgery. Some of these in-office
treatments include: closing the vein with
radiofrequency energy or a laser through a
simple needle access; injecting the veins with
a medicine to close the vein down; or removing
the diseased vein. It is important that patients
discuss which of these therapies would be best
for their case with a vascular specialist.
The Vein Clinic at McLeod Vascular Associates
specializes in the treatment of venous disease.
The clinic includes a team of vascular physicians,
nurses and specialized vascular technicians.
This group can help relieve your symptoms,
improve your cosmetic appearance and assist in
avoiding more serious medical complications.
If you have questions on venous disease, please
call McLeod Vascular Associates at 843-777-7043.
Dr. Carmen Piccolo is a vascular surgeon who is board certified in general surgery with subsequent vascular
surgery fellowship training. Dr. Piccolo cares for patients at McLeod Vascular Associates along with Vascular
Surgeons Dr. Christopher Cunningham and Dr. Gabor Winkler.
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DECEMBER 2015
SHEMAGAZINE.COM