The goal of the UH vascular team when treating venous insufficiency is to restore proper blood flow from the legs to the heart. In the case of chronic venous insufficiency, this often means managing the swelling and other symptoms through compression therapy and leg elevation, but in other cases, medications or surgery may be more effective.

Medical Treatments

Medicines, compression therapy and leg elevation – as supervised by UH vascular medicine physicians – can help improve blood flow, relieving symptoms of vasculitis. Our specialists also provide expertise in controlling the factors necessary for wound healing and tissue regeneration.

  • Diuretics: Diuretics are drugs designed to help the body eliminate excess water and salt through increased urination. They can help with venous insufficiency by decreasing the amount of water, thus minimizing the amount of overall fluid flowing through the blood vessels. This results in pressure reduction on the blood vessel walls.
  • Pentoxifylline: This oral medication is used to improve blood flow.
  • Compression stockings: These specially designed stockings minimize swelling by applying consistent pressure to the leg. They help prevent blood pooling and clotting.
  • Leg elevation: Elevating the legs six to 12 inches above the heart several times a day and at bedtime can help reduce pressure on the blood vessels of the leg.
  • Wound care: Without proper care, the ulcers resulting from venous insufficiency can become infected; in severe cases, gangrene may develop. UH has the area's leading Wound Care Center, where innovative treatments, including the use of substances known as growth factors, ensure patients get the most outstanding care possible.

Surgical Treatments

Surgical treatments for venous insufficiency are similar to those performed on individuals with varicose veins. They range from minimally invasive procedures to open (traditional) surgery:

  • Endovenous ablation therapy (radiofrequency ablation): Endovenous ablation therapy uses heat to destroy vein tissue. A thin catheter (or tube) is inserted into the vein through a tiny skin incision under local anesthesia. Either laser or radio wave (radiofrequency) energy is used to heat and cauterize the vein, thus closing it off.
  • Micro-phlebectomy: This minimally invasive procedure involves tiny incisions through which varicose veins can be removed. It is often used in conjunction with sclerotherapy and is done under a local anesthetic.
  • Sclerotherapy: Sclerotherapy is the injection of a solution into each varicose vein to cause clotting, which closes off the vein. An elastic bandage is wrapped snugly around the legs after the procedure.
  • Surgical vein stripping: During this outpatient procedure, which is performed under general anesthesia, the surgeon makes a cut at the bottom (ankle end) and the top (groin end) of the varicose vein. A thin, plastic, tube-like instrument is placed into the vein and tied around it. When the tube is pulled out, it pulls the vein out from under the skin. Small surgical cuts can also be made over individual veins to remove them.