Our approach to care
Your veins contain tiny valves that help blood move in the right direction. If these valves don’t work properly, then your blood doesn’t flow properly. And when the blood in your lower extremities can’t travel back up toward your heart, it may pool in your legs and feet. Over time, this causes problems ranging from bulging veins and open wounds to dangerous blood clots.
Our team has experience treating mild and serious vein problems, including:
- Chronic venous insufficiency
- Deep vein thrombosis
- May-Thurner syndrome
- Varicose veins
- Venous ulcers
Treatment for varicose veins and other vein disorders
Whether your vein problem causes clotting, bleeding or uncomfortable symptoms, you’ll find complete care at Centra. We offer several outpatient treatments that have minimal side effects and downtime:
- Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT). We use laser heat to shrink and permanently close problem veins. This treatment is also known as endovenous laser ablation.
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. This procedure treats large veins that are not visible on the skin’s surface. We use ultrasound imaging to find them and inject a chemical solution that seals them shut.
- Phlebectomy. We make tiny incisions in the leg and remove problem veins located near the skin’s surface. The incisions are so small that they heal on their own without stitches.
If you need more advanced treatment, we’ll refer you to a specialist who can help. For example, we work closely with Centra vascular surgeons and wound care specialists.
Expert care for deep vein thrombosis
One of the most serious vein problems is deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. It occurs when a blood clot forms inside one of the deep veins found in muscles. These clots can travel to your lungs and get stuck, causing a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism (or venous thromboembolism).
It’s important to know the symptoms of DVT so you can seek prompt medical care.
DVT symptoms
Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of DVT:
- Swelling in one leg
- A feeling of warmth in the swollen leg, with or without skin reddening or discoloration
- Leg pain, especially in the calf area
If your doctor orders an imaging test to confirm or rule out DVT, our team will make sure you receive it that same day. If we find a blood clot, you’ll be referred to our DVT clinic for rapid treatment.
DVT treatment
The goal of DVT treatment is to make sure the clot doesn’t grow, and to prevent it from breaking off and traveling to your lungs. Your treatments may include one or more of the following:
- Blood thinners. A medication that prevents clots from getting bigger, and reduces your risk of developing additional clots. You may need to take blood thinners for several months or longer.
- Thrombolytics. These special medications help dissolve severe blood clots.
- Blood clot filter. If you can’t take blood thinners or thrombolytics, your doctor may implant an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter into a large vein in your abdomen. The filter traps blood clots so they can’t travel to your lungs. We can also remove this filter if your doctor decides you no longer need it.
Once you have DVT, you have a higher chance of developing it again. Our team will make sure you’re taking the right precautions to prevent future clots, and will monitor your health long-term.
Tests and treatments
- Angioplasty and stenting
- Blood thinners
- Deep vein intravascular ultrasound
- Duplex ultrasound
- Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT)
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement
- Laser ablation
- Phlebectomy
- Thrombolysis
- Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
- Venogram
- Venous ultrasound
