Venous Ulceration
Venous ulcers are external wounds that most commonly appear around the lower legs and ankles and are caused by damage to the valves that control the pressure inside the veins.
This damage stops the valves from functioning normally, causing chronic venous hypertension which causes varicose veins that, over time, can result in venous ulcers.
Unlike other external wounds, venous ulcers may not heal without medical intervention. Patients should see Dr. Perlmutter immediately for the care of these ulcers.
Risk Factors
- Chronic Venous Hypertension
- Varicose Veins
- Skin changes
- Edema/Swelling
Treatment
A venous ulcer is a wound and must be properly cleaned and dressed with a combination of bandages. We will also have you wear compression socks, frequently elevate your leg(s) and avoid skin irritants like body lotions.
Dr. Perlmutter may also prescribe compression therapy to reduce swelling or edema, and medications to prevent worsening of symptoms and/or complications like cellulitis, osteomyelitis, and skin changes.
In most cases, the cause of venous ulcers is chronic venous hypertension. To ultimately treat your venous ulcer one or more of the following procedures will be recommended:
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) is a procedure for indwelling varicose veins to relieve the high pressure by using heat to force the vein to close down instantly. There are hundreds of veins in the legs and, upon completion of the EVLT, the blood flow is directed through other veins, significantly reducing the high pressure and, as a bonus, some patients feel better the second they stand up after the procedure! EVLT procedures only take 30-40 minutes to conduct, are performed right in the office, and there is no downtime post-procedure!
VenaSeal™ is an outpatient procedure that involves using cyanoacrylate adhesives to stop the flow of blood at the site of the vein that has failed. As a result of this procedure, the vein will close, allowing blood to divert to healthy veins in the leg. VenaSeal has been proven to be a more effective, less invasive procedure for the treatment of Varicose Veins, the main cause of most varicose veins. It is done right in the office, takes about an hour, and you can carry on most normal activities the very same day.
Sclerotherapy is another effective treatment for Varicose Veins. Sclerotherapy is a method of eliminating indwelling and surface varicose veins. A solution, called a sclerosing agent, is injected into the veins. Its job is to attach itself to the inner walls of the vein causing irritation and inflammation within the treated vein and, over time, the vein is reabsorbed by the body and disappears. It is done in the office and takes about 45 minutes.
EVLT, VenaSeal™, and Sclerotherapy help our patients to heal quicker with no downtime and are performed right in the office.
While it may seem inconvenient, it is crucial to follow these instructions and return for your follow-up visits with Dr. Perlmutter to prevent re-occurrence or worsening health conditions.
