Total Vein Care is proud to be Northern Colorado’s most experienced and skilled vein care specialist. We offer a complete range of treatment options, ranging from the most modern, state-of-the-art treatments – like VNUS Closure® – to the more traditional options – like vein stripping.

VNUS Closure® – State-of-the-Art Treatment
for Vein Disease

The VNUS Closure® procedure was pioneered in Europe beginning in 1998 and became available in the United States one year later, in March 1999. Today, nearly 100,000 procedures have been performed worldwide.

Total Vein Care is proud to be the area leader in this groundbreaking new treatment for vein disease. Dr. Kaufman’s experience and success rate with the Closure® procedure are unsurpassed.

The Benefits of VNUS Closure® include:

• Relief of symptoms – The VNUS Closure® procedure uses radiofrequency energy to close the diseased vein, rather than removal of the vein itself. Once other healthy veins take over, you will notice a great relief in your symptoms.
• Convenience – The Closure® procedure is conveniently performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing you to go home the same day.
• Short recovery time - You should be able to resume your normal lifestyle within one to two days.
• Improved cosmetic appearance – You will be pleased to learn that there is virtually no scarring, bruising or swelling following the Closure® procedure.

Traditional, Short-Term Treatments for Varicose Veins

ESES (pronounced SS) – Exercise, Stockings, Elevation, and Still

Traditionally, it was thought that varicose veins could be treated using a combination of exercise, wearing compression hose, and elevating and resting the legs. We now know that this will not make the veins go away or necessarily prevent them from worsening because the underlying disease (venous reflux) has not been addressed. These activities, along with weight reduction, may provide some temporary symptomatic relief.

Sclerotherapy (or Foam)

For nearly half a century, destruction of spider veins and some varicose veins by injection treatment has been standard practice. Injection of a detergent solution into a vein causes it to close. Other veins then take over its work.

Ambulatory Phlebectomy

As with sclerotherapy, ambulatory phlebectomy is a surgical procedure for treating surface veins in which multiple small incisions are made along a varicose vein and it is "fished out" of the leg using surgical hooks or forceps. The procedure is performed under local or regional anesthesia.

Vein stripping

If the source of the reverse blood flow is due to damaged valves in the saphenous vein, the vein may be removed by a surgical procedure known as vein stripping. Under general anesthesia, all or part of the vein is tied off and pulled out. The legs are bandaged after the surgery but pain, swelling and bruising may last for weeks.

How is the new VNUS Closure® procedure different than traditional vein stripping?

During a vein 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 your leg through a second incision just above your calf.

In the VNUS Closure® procedure, there is no need for invasive surgery. Instead, the vein remains in place and is closed using a special catheter inserted through a small puncture. This virtually eliminates the bruising and pain often associated with vein stripping. Vein stripping is usually performed in an operating room, under a general anesthetic, while the VNUS Closure® procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, typically using local or regional anesthesia.

Treatment Effectiveness

Three randomized trials of the VNUS Closure® procedure vs. vein stripping, including a recent multi-center comparative trial, showed very similar results. In the multi-center comparative trial, the VNUS Closure® procedure was superior to vein stripping in every statistically significant outcome. In the study, 80.5 percent of patients treated with the VNUS Closure® procedure returned to normal activities within one day versus 46.9 percent of patients who underwent vein stripping. Also, VNUS Closure® patients returned to work 7.7 days sooner than surgical patients. Patients treated with the VNUS Closure® procedure have had less postoperative pain, less bruising, faster recovery, and fewer overall adverse events. At five years following VNUS Closure®, approximately 90% of patients no longer demonstrate venous reflux in the treated veins.

To determine which treatment option is recommended for your individual situation, please call 970-498-VEIN (8346) to schedule a consultation.