Turning the Tide on Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Background: A 73-year-old woman came to our vein clinic after years of leg swelling, especially in her right leg. She also noticed her skin around her ankle and lower leg had become darker and thicker. These changes made her uncomfortable and worried.

Before coming to us, her regular doctor and heart specialist had checked her out. They told her the swelling wasn’t serious and didn’t need more tests. But her symptoms got worse over time, and she felt more discomfort.

She remembered our vein clinic because we had helped her father with similar vein problems years ago. That’s why she decided to visit us for a second opinion.

Clinical Evaluation: We did a detailed evaluation that involved a special ultrasound to look at the veins in her legs. The test showed that her main vein in the right leg wasn’t working well, and blood was flowing the wrong way. The same problem was found in both legs, but it was worse on the right.

Our physical exam confirmed the swelling and skin changes. The skin was darker and a bit thicker than normal, with early signs of irritation.

Diagnosis and Treatment: She had a condition called chronic venous insufficiency. This means her leg veins weren’t moving blood back to her heart as they should. The right leg was more affected than the left. She also had skin changes caused by poor circulation.

She was an excellent candidate for a procedure called endovenous ablation to fix the main vein in her right leg. If needed, we could also treat smaller varicose veins with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy.

She has been counseled on the chronic, progressive nature of venous disease and the importance of early intervention to prevent further skin breakdown and ulceration.

Contact Vein Specialists for more information about endovenous ablation or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph Magnant and his team, Southwest Florida’s leading vein specialists.