Venous Disease and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
Chronic venous insufficiency develops when the valves that are present in healthy leg veins stop working properly, allowing blood to flow backward (reflux) and pool in the lower leg veins. Left untreated, CVI symptoms can worsen over time, including the formation of venous ulcers, a potentially serious and progressive medical condition.
Chronic venous insufficiency may cause the following symptoms in your legs:
- Varicose veins
- Aching
- Swelling
- Cramping
- Heaviness or tiredness
- Itching
- Open skin sores
- Restlessness
It is important to note that varicose veins may be more than just a cosmetic issue, are not the same as spider veins, and affect both men and women. Risk factors include:
- Age and gender (women over 50)
- Family history
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Trauma
- Prolonged Standing
- Obesity or excess weight
- Current or previous pregnancies
- Smoking
Dr. Laura Ragauskaite of Progressive Surgical Associates offers two minimally invasive procedures for patients, ClosureFast™ and VenaSeal™, for the treatment for varicose veins and CVI. The ClosureFast™ procedure uses controlled and consistent heat to close the diseased vein. The VenaSeal™ closure system uses a proprietary medical adhesive to close the diseased vein.
Dr. Ragauskaite can perform these procedures by appointment, right in our office, after a consultative visit. You may schedule your initial consultation by calling our office at (815) 717-8730 to see if you are a candidate for either of these minimally invasive, advanced treatments for venous disease.