VENOPLASTY & STENTING

VENOPLASTY AND STENTING

How It’s Done

A tube is placed into the major vein of the leg and left in place while the procedure is performed. This allows repeated entry and withdrawal of different devices. A balloon is inserted in a collapsed state, placed across the tight area and then inflated with high pressure. Afterwards a stent is placed to hold the vessel open. The stent is like a tubular wire mesh. It acts like a scaffold to hold the vein open.

Aftercare

The vein access with be covered with a small dressing that can be removed in 24 hours. Bruising can often occur around that area.

There is usually pain from the lower back radiating toward the hip area and sometimes in the lower abdomen for a brief period.
Some people will need strong pain medication and others will not.

• This replaces open surgery that was complicated, risky and was difficult to get reproducibly good outcomes.
• This allows the venous blood to drain from the leg easier. This helps in relieving, pain, swelling, and allowing ulcers to heal with less risk of recurrence.
• This can be done under heavy sedation or you can be “completely out” with our Certified Nurse Anesthetists under Dr Draughn’s supervision.
• We will follow you after the procedure for up to five years with occasional ultrasounds to monitor the flow through the stents.
• We have gone through a rigorous process of accreditation to ensure that we have the highest standards of care equivalent to any hospital or outpatient surgical center. We currently offer this procedure in our Charlotte Office.