Take a few minutes to test your knowledge about varicose veins and vein disease.

Take a few minutes to test your knowledge about varicose veins and vein disease.

1.     Spider veins can be treated with:

a. Venaseal
b. Injection of polidocanol
c. Injection of the patient’s own blood
d. Warm compresses
e. All of the above

2.     Varicose veins and venous insufficiency can cause legs to feel:

a. Tired
b. Painful
c. Swollen
d. Heavy
e. All of the above

3.     Venous ablation is used to treat:

a. Blood clots
b. Venous insufficiency (reflux)
c. Pulmonary embolism
d. Narrowed arteries
e. All of the above

4.     Venaseal is a new treatment option that uses _________ to treat venous insufficiency:

a. Medical adhesive (glue)
b. Heat
c. Cold
d. Antibiotics
e. All of the above

5.     Compression stockings:

a. Can be used to treat venous insufficiency
b. Will make varicose veins disappear completely
c. Should be customized based on size and desired pressure
d. Both A & C
e. All of the above

Answers:

1. B, Polidocanol (Asclera) can be injected directly into spider veins.  This acts as a sclerosing agent and damages the wall of the spider vein.  Overtime, the damaged vein will be replaced with tissue.

2. E, Venous insufficiency is responsible for a variety symptoms including all those listed.  In addition, venous insufficiency can cause leg ulcers, restless legs and skin color changes.

3. B, Ablation technology uses heat to “close” malfunctioning veins and allow blood flow to be redirected into healthier veins.

4. A, Cyanoacrylate is a medical adhesive used to treat different medical problems.  Venaseal is the technique/tool used to delivery the glue to a malfunctioning vein.

5. D, Compression stockings are an excellent treatment option for some patients with symptomatic venous insufficiency.  Specific stockings are prescribed based on size and pressure criteria.