Southcoast Health has announced that the Southcoast Health Vein Center is now offering a new procedure to patients seeking treatment for venous reflux disease.

The VenaSeal closure system is a new, minimally invasive procedure that treats venous reflux disease using an advanced medical adhesive to close the diseased vein. This condition affects more than 30 million Americans and causes blood to flow backward resulting in enlarged, or varicose veins, as well as other symptoms. Complications from varicose veins range from simple cosmetic concerns to painful and more serious medical issues.

"This unique approach eliminates the risk of nerve injury when treating the small saphenous vein, which is a risk sometimes associated with certain thermal-based procedures. Clinical studies have demonstrated that the procedure is safe and effective. The procedure is administered without the use of tumescent anesthesia, avoiding patient discomfort associated with multiple needle sticks,” said Dr. David Gillespie, Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Southcoast Health.

Patients treated with the VenaSeal closure system often have minimal to no bruising and can return quickly to normal activities. In some cases, patients also may not need to use compression stockings after the procedure, which helps alleviate much of the typical post-procedure discomfort.

To learn more about the VenaSeal closure system, visit southcoast.org/vein-center or call (508) 973-2213.