Varicose veins and spider veins can present a range of issues for those who experience them, from cosmetic concerns to serious lifestyle limitations. Fortunately, there are multiple solutions available thanks to vein specialists, like those in UTMB’s
Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.
Christine Shokrzadeh, MD, says venous insufficiency, the cause of varicose and spider veins, is most common in women after they have had children. While some patients want these veins treated or removed because they dislike their appearance, there are
sometimes additional, more pressing causes for concern.
“There are lifestyle-limiting reasons for treating them. It’s not a life-threatening or limb-threatening issue, but it can cause ulcerations of your skin and legs at the severe stage, and chronic color change in the skin,” she says.
“And that can lead to serious infections.”
Dr. Shokrzadeh advises that patients be screened for venous disease if they have varicose veins, spider veins or are experiencing swollen or tired legs after standing or walking for longer periods of time. Left untreated, any underlying problems could
worsen.
UTMB’s Vein and Lymphatic Center can provide a variety of options that help patients combat venous disease. The team is led by Dr. Shokrzadeh as director, working alongside Dr. Jennifer Worsham, nurse practitioner Christina Guarin, and, starting
this fall, Dr. Ruth Bush.
Fortunately, many varicose vein treatments are nonsurgical or minimally invasive, and do not require a hospital stay.
Sclerotherapy is the most common treatment for spider veins and telangiectasias, which are dilated small blood vessels on the skin. The procedure consists of a chemical being injected into the vein that stops the flow of blood. The vein becomes scar tissue
and blood is re-routed to healthy veins. The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and results are usually seen within a few weeks.
The team also performs vein removals as well as radiofrequency ablations, which treat venous reflux, the underlying cause of most venous disease. Depending on the severity of the disease and the patient’s comfort, the team can determine the best
option for each case.
“Our office-based procedures mainly are the spider vein treatments, telangiectasia treatments and some venous insufficiency. If there are large varicose veins and a history of DVT (deep vein thrombosis), that needs a stent, and that needs to be
done in the operating room,” she says.
“We can see them and direct them to the kind of treatment that’s individualized.”
These procedures are currently performed at the Galveston and Clear Lake campuses, and Dr. Shokrzadeh says plans are underway to open a procedure room at League City.
In addition to vein treatments, the team sees patients for lymphedema. Dr. Shokrzadeh says there are patients who experience both lymphedema and venous insufficiency, which is another good reason for individuals to see a doctor if they are experiencing
concerns related to venous disease.
Dr. Shokrzadeh says there are certain symptoms that should trigger a primary care physician to refer a patient to a vascular specialist, like discomfort or bleeding from varicose veins.
“When (patients) have chronic skin changes or they’re starting to see they’re developing an ulcer, that’s when it’s the most important to get it treated,” she says. “With lymphedema patients, the sooner they can
actually get in to see a specialist, the better, so that it doesn’t get to chronic late-stage lymphedema, where there’s no turning back.”