ClosureFast: Cenla Health - Alexandria, Pineville, Louisiana

Statistics show ten times more patients suffer from venous insufficiency than peripheral arterial disease in the United States. Although often mistaken as a cosmetic problem, venous insufficiency can produce significant clinical problems.

Some common symptoms of venous insufficiency are:

• Aching, tired or weak legs, especially after long periods of standing or sitting.
• Varicose veins
• Burning or itching of the skin
• Swollen legs and/or ankles (edema)
• Color and texture changes of the skin
• Open wounds (skin ulcers)

Vnus Medical Technologies recently began distribution of its ClosureFast catheter for the treatment of Saphenous vein insufficiency. The Vascular Clinic in Alexandria is one of the first locations in the country to use this improved technology.

The Vnus ClosureFast catheter is designed to heat, shrink, and occlude refluxing Saphenous veins with radiofrequency (RF) treatment times of just 3-5 minutes while maintaining the fast and mild patient recovery expected with RF vein treatment.

“I like this new system for a number of reasons", says Dr. David, Vascular Surgeon. “First, it operates at a lower temperature, which measures for the patient less pain and tenderness in the post operative course, than the same treatment delivered with laser."Laser uses light conversion to over 1000 degrees centigrade compared to 120 degrees centigrade used with the new Vnus ClosureFast.

“Secondly, there is a controlled heat distribution of energy along the entire circumference and length of one vein treated." Dr. David also reports preliminary results from Europe note near 100% occlusion rates compared with 91-95% occlusion by laser and older radiofrequency catheters.

Lastly, Dr. David says “The treatment does procede quickly meaning less time and discomfort to the patient." Once local anesthesia is administered, the entire treatment is complete in 5 minutes.

This new ClosureFast Saphenous vein treatment, along with the other Vnus radiofrequency technology like RFS Venous perforator vein catheters, enables all of vein practice procedures to be done in the office with patients remaining ambulatory and continuing daily activities. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of venous insufficiency, call Dr. David at the Vascular Clinic for more information.

Dr. James David is in private practice at Vascular Clinic in Alexandria.

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