Vein therapy brings golfer back to his feet

Varicose vein treatment was not something David Desender expected to discuss with his doctor while seeking care for heart arrhythmia concerns.

During an appointment at the Genesis Heart & Vascular Institute with Grant V. Chow, M.D., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Cardiac Electrophysiologist, David shared that his ankles would sometimes swell.

Dr. Chow asked if David was experiencing pain and if he could refer him to the Genesis Vein Center.

“I’ve always gone to Genesis,” said David. “It’s the go-to place.”

Ahmed Habib, M.D., Fellowship-trained and Board-certified Cardiologist and Vein Specialist at the Genesis Vein Center, soon evaluated David’s symptoms with a quick ultrasound. Dr. Habib is the director of the accredited outpatient facility, offering comprehensive treatment options for patients with vein concerns.

A non-surgical procedure

David was diagnosed with chronic venous disease. Dr. Habib recommended ablation vein treatments for both legs. The non-surgical procedure uses heat to treat the abnormal veins, resulting in closure and improvement in circulation and symptoms.

David is an avid golfer. Dr. Habib said that walking on the golf course as regular exercise and maintaining an ideal body weight helped slow the progression of the disease.

Chronic vein disease affects about 30 million Americans. Weakened valves cause blood to flow backward, leading to spider and varicose veins, swelling, burning, aching, restless legs and skin discoloration. If left untreated, varicose vein symptoms can lead to more serious complications, such as ulcers and blood clots, which can become life-threatening.

“Unfortunately, only about half a million Americans seek varicose vein care,” said Dr. Habib. “When treated in the early stages, we can offer significant improvement in a patient’s quality of life.”

David’s treatment plan included four short endovenous procedures. His confidence in Genesis made the decision easy.

“I believe in Genesis,” said David. “I trusted Dr. Habib’s expertise.”

Acing the recovery

"I’ve always gone to Genesis. It’s the go-to place."

With the advancement of technology, minimally invasive techniques have eliminated the need for open surgery, known as vein stripping. Dr. Habib said the recovery time for varicose vein treatment has improved over the years, making David’s procedures a popular option.

“Patients who underwent vein stripping used to spend two to three days in the hospital. It would take three to four weeks to return to work,” said Dr. Habib. “Now, I tell patients they can go shopping after they finish the 10-15-minute procedure done in our office. No cuts, stitches or sutures are involved.”

Dr. Habib said no anesthesia or IVs are needed for the ablation vein procedure. Improvements often result as soon as one week, and relief is sustainable for several years.

David quickly returned to the golf course after the four treatments. “I’m happy with everything,” he said. “My legs are in great shape. It made a big difference.”

Learn more at genesishcs.org/veincenter.