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Common Questions & Answers about Closure
Q: How is the Closure procedure different than vein stripping?
A: During a stripping procedure, the surgeon
makes an incision in your groin and ties off the veins after which a stripper tool is threaded through the saphenous
vein and used to pull the vein out of the your leg through a second incision just above your calf.
In the Closure procedure, there is no need for groin
surgery, instead the vein remains in place and is closed using a special (Closure) catheter inserted through a
small puncture. This virtually eliminates the bruising and pain often associated with vein stripping (i.e. this
may result from the tearing of side branch veins while the saphenous vein is pulled out).
Vein stripping is usually performed in an operating room, under
a general anesthetic, while the Closure procedure is performed on an outpatient basis typically using local or
regional anesthesia.
Some common side effects from vein stripping and ligation surgery
may include temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, hematoma, numbness, and sometimes infection.
Q: Is the procedure painful?
A: Patients report feeling little if any pain during the
Closure procedure. Your physician will give you a local or regional anesthetic to numb the treatment area.
Q: How quickly after treatment can I return to normal activities?
A: Many patients can resume normal activities within 1-2
days. For a few weeks following the treatment, your doctor may recommend a regular walking regimen and suggest
that you refrain from very strenuous activities (heavy lifting for example) or prolonged periods of standing.
Q: How soon after treatment will my symptoms improve?
A: Most patients report a noticeable improvement in their
symptoms in 1-2 weeks following the procedure.
Q: Is there any scarring, bruising, or swelling after the procedure?
A: Patients report minimal to no scarring, bruising, or
swelling following the Closure procedure.
Safety Summary
As with any medical intervention, potential risks and complications
exist with the Closure procedure. You should consult Dr. Niedzwiecki to determine if your individual condition presents any special risks.
Although a summary of potential complications of the Closure procedure is provided, you are encouraged to review
these with Dr. Niedzwiecki at the time of consultation.
Contraindications:
- Patients with a pacemaker or internal defibrillator
- Patients with thrombus in the vein segment to be treated
- Patients with an aneurysmal section in the vein segment to be
treated
- Patients with peripheral arterial disease as determined by an
Ankle-brachial index of <.9
Potential Risks & Complications:
- Potential complications include, but are not limited to the following:
vessel perforation, thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, phlebitis, hematoma, infection, paresthesia, skin burns, death.
- Treatment of veins located very close to the skin surface may
result in a skin burn.
- Paresthesia may occur from thermal damage to adjacent sensory
nerves. The risk of paresthesia is higher with treatment at or below the calf.
Please Call us TODAY at 727-791-7300
if you have any questions. We're looking forward to helping you .
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