Venous Disease
Understanding Vein Disease
The veins in our bodies are blood vessels that move the blood from your body back to your heart. These veins contain valves that keep blood flowing in one direction.
When the veins or valves become damaged, it can cause blood to pool or flow backward in the legs—causing discoloration, bulging, pain, and various health conditions.
The most common venous diseases are generally not harmful but can cause slight discomfort or cause abnormal veins to be visible under the skin. More serious venous diseases can cause pain and swelling, which can disrupt other bodily functions and, in severe cases, can be dangerous if not treated.
Comprehensive Care for Venous Diseases
With CHRISTUS Health, you can access a wide network of world-class specialists, bringing you 250 years of combined experience with heart and vascular care.
Our team includes cardiologists, surgeons, specialists, and dedicated medical staff, committed to providing personalized care for your venous disorder. With collaborative expertise and the latest advancements in medical technology, our team ensures you receive the highest standard of treatment.
You’ll receive innovative therapies and effective treatments for various venous conditions, including varicose veins, spider veins, deep-vein thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and more using an integrated approach.
Heart and Vascular Institute
Exceptional Heart CareHeart and Vascular Institute
Experience faster, easier access to exceptional heart and vascular care. The Heart and Vascular Institute in Tyler provides you with access to more than 60 cardiovascular specialists throughout Northeast Texas with 13 practice locations, an outpatient cath lab, and 14 highly-trained clinician specialists.
Types of Vein Disease
Get treatment for a wide range of venous disorders at CHRISTUS Health including:
- Varicose vein
- Spider vein
- Acute and chronic venous insufficiency
- Superficial thrombophlebitis
- Deep-vein thrombophlebitis
- Chronic vein disease
- Chronic, non-healing leg wounds
Diagnoses of Vein Diseases
Most vein disorders can be diagnosed with a simple conversation and physical evaluation with your doctor.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history, followed by a physical exam to look for swelling or visible veins. If needed, they might also recommend a quick ultrasound to look at blood flow in your legs.
This helps you identify the type and severity of your vein disorder.
Varicose & Spider Veins
Learn MoreVaricose & Spider Veins
Varicose and spider veins are two types of venous diseases. These two type of diseases can appear on small and large areas on the skin.
Treatment Options for Venous Diseases
This is a good option for treating a venous disease that is causing mild pain or swelling. Compression socks, bandages, or pumps work by gently squeezing the affected area in your legs. This helps blood flow back up to your heart more easily, reducing swelling, fatigue, and pain.
Compression therapy is a simple way to treat mild symptoms of venous diseases, including chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, or spider veins.
This treatment is a minimally invasive option for small varicose veins and spider veins. A thin needle injects a chemical solution that causes the vein to seal close and shrink. Over time, the treated vein fades away. This procedure can improve the appearance of your legs and may also reduce discomfort.
In some cases, multiple sessions might be needed, and it’s not suitable for larger varicose veins.
Certain medications can be used to improve symptoms and prevent complications of venous disorders. There are two main types: diuretics, and venotonics.
Medications for venous disorders are usually used with other treatments like compression therapy. Your doctor will help you consider the risks and benefits of starting medication for venous disorders.
Surgical stripping is a treatment option for severe varicose veins that cause significant pain, discomfort, or skin problems. During this procedure, damaged veins are removed through small incisions.
Most doctors opt for less invasive options, as this procedure requires the patient to be under anesthesia with a longer recovery process.
Ambulatory phlebectomy is a minimally invasive procedure for varicose veins, offering a good middle ground between compression therapy and surgical stripping. Like stripping, it removes varicose veins, but through much smaller incisions, for less scarring and quicker recovery.
It can often be done as an outpatient procedure. This may be a good option if you suffer from varicose veins that can’t be treated through sclerotherapy but aren't severe enough for stripping.
There are two main types of ablation: radiofrequency and laser ablation. Both types of ablation are minimally invasive treatments for venous disorders that use heat to close affected veins. A thin catheter is inserted into the vein and delivers radio waves or laser energy to heat the vein walls, causing them to seal shut.
Both types of ablation treatments offer faster recovery time and less scarring than surgery.
