Mount Nittany Health provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of vascular disorders including peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and vein disorders.
For your convenience and comfort, many of these treatments can be performed in our office and most are covered by insurance. We also emphasize lifestyle modification to prevent progression of vascular disease and improve overall health.
Vein Conditions
Varicose veins
- What are varicose veins?
- Large, bulging veins you can see under the skin surface
- Most commonly occur in the legs
- Often a sign of underlying venous insufficiency or “leaky veins” in which the valves fail to efficiently pump blood towards the heart resulting in pooling of blood in the legs
Symptoms include
- Heaviness, burning or aching in the legs especially after prolonged standing
- Swelling of the legs
- Itching or bleeding from veins
- Skin discoloration
- Superficial blood clots
- Skin ulcers
Spider Veins
- Spider veins are small, dilated blood vessels near the skin surface
- They can be red, blue or purple in color
- They are named “spider” veins because they often look like spider webs
- Spider veins can be a sign of an underlying vein disorder
Venous ulcers
- Sometimes people with advanced vein disease will develop open sores or ulcers associated with their underlying venous condition
- These sores are often painful, slow to heal and can be complicated by infection
- We work closely with the Mount Nittany wound care center to provide multidisciplinary care for patients with vascular related wounds
Vein Treatments
We offer a variety of treatment options for varicose and spider veins. Our vein specialists work directly with you to design a customized plan to best achieve your goals.
Our vein treatments are all minimally invasive, outpatient procedures performed in our office. Recovery time is minimal and most activities can be resumed immediately after the procedure. The appearance of varicose veins and symptoms typically improve within a short period of time.
VenaSeal
VenaSeal is a medical adhesive (like glue) is inserted into the diseased vein through a small catheter under ultrasound guidance
The adhesive seals the targeted vein allowing blood to be redirected into other healthy veins
Radiofequency Ablation (RFA)
- A small catheter is inserted into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance
- Heat is delivered to the targeted vein causing it to collapse and close
- Blood is redirected into other healthy veins.
Varithena
- Varithena solution is injected into the targeted vein causing the vein to collapse and close
- Blood is redirected into other healthy veins
Clarivein
- A small catheter is inserted into the vein under ultrasound-guidance
- Clarivein using a rotating wire and sclerosing agent to cause the vein to collapse
- Blood is redirected into other healthy veins
Sclerotherapy (Asclera)
- Involves a series of injections with a very small needle directly into spider veins to improve their appearance
- Simple procedure performed in the office with no need for anesthesia
- Minimal recovery time, you can resume most normal activities immediately after the procedure
- Appearance of spider veins improves in a short period of time
Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when plaque buildup results in narrowing or blockages in arteries carrying blood to the extremities, most commonly the legs. A similar process can also occur in the arteries supplying blood to the kidneys, this is referred to as renal artery stenosis.
Risk factors for PAD:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Elevated cholesterol
Symptoms include:
- Leg pain, cramping or fatigue especially with activity that improves with rest
- Leg coolness or discoloration
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Sores on your toes or feet that do not heal
Evaluation and treatment of arterial disease
We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial disease. Our advanced endovascular treatment options are minimally invasive and performed at our state of the art cardiovascular pavilion.
Diagnostic evaluation:
- Ankle brachial index: noninvasive test involving comparing blood pressure measurements in the arms and legs used to screen for peripheral arterial disease
- Ultrasound: Arterial ultrasounds are noninvasive and performed in our office. The study provides pictures and measurements of the arteries and blood flow.
- Angiography: A diagnostic procedure performed under x-ray which can also be therapeutic. The procedure is performed by inserting a small catheter into the arteries and injecting contrast dye to detect narrowing or blockages.
Treatment of arterial disease
Angioplasty: Minimally invasive treatment which involves inserting a small tube called a catheter into the artery. The catheter has a balloon on the end which is gently expanded and pushes open the blockage. Angioplasty can be performed alone or in conjunction with stenting.
Stenting: Minimally invasive treatment in which a catheter with a stent on the end will be inserted into the artery. Stents are mesh tubes that are deployed in the artery at the site of narrowing or blockage to keep the artery open.
Lifestyle Modification
- Optimizing management of risk factors including diabetes and high cholesterol
- Diet
- Exercise
- Smoking cessation