From Colorado’s Vein Expert: You Have A Personal Choice When It Comes to Treating Varicose and Spider Veins
In today’s environment of aggressive Internet marketing, patients are frequently presented with conflicting information about the health risks of varicose veins (VV) and spider veins (SV). It is important for patients to understand that VV are not “silent killers.”
“Free vein screenings” might be a marketing gimmick to get patients in the door, but without symptoms there is rarely anything an evaluation would discover that would require intervention. Even worse is the use of inaccurate threats stating “patients who do not get evaluated for VV are at risk for developing DVT and ulcers.” Patients should only seek care for varicose or spider veins if they are experiencing aching, burning, itching, heavy legs or ankle swelling.
Older patients may naturally have superficial venous valve leakage (reflux), but it is often clinically insignificant. Patients should only be treated if they have significant symptoms. Patients should never be coerced to think that without treatment they will experience serious negative health outcomes.
If one thinks they have vein disease, choosing where to go is important. The differences between provider skill-set and facility qualifications could lead to vastly different long-term outcomes. Typically, physicians who practice Phlebology come from different backgrounds. So how does a patient decide where to have their veins evaluated?
Choose a physician who is dedicated to treating venous disease. Physicians who practice Phlebology only part-time may have conflicting responsibilities, often resulting in scheduling disruptions and inability to thoroughly address patient concerns.
Choose a Physician that has micro-surgical experience. Choosing a physician with micro-surgical vascular experience is imperative, as removal of VV through micro-incisions is an integral part of complete venous care.
Choose an Accredited Facility. Most importantly, facility accreditation guarantees a practice provides maximum safety and proven treatments. Vascular ultrasound laboratory accreditation (Vascular Testing) is frequently misrepresented as “facility” accreditation. While an IAC Accreditation in Vascular Testing is an important prerequisite, the highest accreditation a vein practice can achieve is the national IAC Accreditation in VEIN CENTER.
AUTHOR: James D Albert, M.D., RPVI of Albert Vein Institute