Photo by Amy Cherry
Dr. Narayana Subramany, MD, is shown with Mary Kay Jovenitti, LPN and Christine Cherry, ultrasound technician in showing how the new VNUS procedure is performed.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Those looking to alleviate painful and unsightly varicose veins may find relief in a new procedure currently offered by surgeon Dr. Narayana Subramany, MD.
The VNUS Closure Procedure is performed on an outpatient basis in Subramany’s office located in the Udarbe Complex in Ridgway and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
The new minimally invasive treatment involves inserting a small catheter into the diseased vein through a small incision and threading the device up to the groin area.  Radiofrequency waves are applied to heat and seal the vein. Once a defective vein is sealed shut, blood flow immediately diverts to healthy veins. Ultrasound equipment is utilized to view the procedure.
Patients suffering from the medical condition of superficial venous reflux, an underlying cause of varicose veins, are affected by the circulation of blood in their lower extremities. The tiny valves that normally force blood back up towards the heart no longer function, causing blood to pool up in the legs, and the veins of the legs become distended.
This condition, affecting more than 25 million Americans, commonly produces varicose veins ranging range from “spider veins” which are small, thin purple lines just under the skin to thick, bulging veins that can protrude well beyond the skin surface. This progressive disease can cause significant circulatory problems as it worsens.  “We are trying to avoid a major procedure of stripping the vein,” Subramany said, referring to the previous method of treating varicose veins.
The previous method involved making an incision in the groin and ankle then pulling the vein out while the patient is under anesthesia. Recovery lasts anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks with the patients having to wear leg wraps and encountering black and blue bruises and swelling.
According to Subramany, he is one of the only doctor’s in the area offering the procedure.
“We have been doing the venous closure procedure for three months and have done about 24 patients, but I have been working on varicose veins throughout my entire 25-year surgical career,” Subramany said. “As technology changes we also keep changing.”
Subramany currently sets aside one day a month to perform the procedure. However as patient numbers increase, the surgeon plans to offer additional dates.
Patients are given a Valium to help them relax during the procedure.
“Venous disease is 10 times more common than arterial disease in which some people come in with gangrene in their leg due to this disease,” Subramany said.
He added that if there are leftover veins after the procedure they will  be removed six weeks later with a little incision.
Charlie Haberberger, 60, St. Marys, underwent the procedure one month ago.
“ I’ve had no side effects. They took real good care of me and my legs look excellent now,” Haberberger said.
According to Haberberger, he chose to have the procedure done because his legs were often pinched across the mid-shin area whenever he laced up his boots. This would result in bulging, painful veins.
Haberberger said he was tentative to have the former vein stripping procedure done, but once he and his wife Beth found out about the new procedure he chose to proceed with it.
“I was done in 15 minutes,” Haberberger said.
George Sowers of Emporium chose to undergo the procedure after suffering from a perpetually swollen ankle. He was made aware of the new procedure by a clinic nurse who advised him to have his leg looked at by Subramany.
Sowers said his ankle is no longer swollen and has no problems since his procedure.
According to Subramany, varicose veins can be genetic but is mostly due to the underlying pathology of a defective vein. This problem can also be compounded by a person’s profession especially those who stand on their feet for a long time.
Those suffering from superficial venous reflux often encounter varicose veins, burning, itching color or texture changes of the skin, aching, tired or weak legs especially after long periods of standing or sitting, swollen legs or ankles (edema) or poorly healing wounds such as skin ulcers.
Since January 2009, more than 450,000 people have been treated with the VNUS Closure Procedure, which is typically covered by most health insurance companies.