We provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of vascular disorders, including peripheral arterial disease (PAD), renal arterial disease 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.

Varicose veins

• What are varicose veins?

• They are large, bulging veins that you can see under the skin surface.
• They most commonly occur in the legs.
• They are often a sign of underlying venous insufficiency or “leaky veins,” in which the valves fail to efficiently pump blood toward 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 spiderwebs.
• 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 and slow to heal and can be complicated by infection.
• We work closely with the Mount Nittany Health Center for Wound Care to provide care for patients suffering from venous ulcers.
• Treatment often includes a combination of wound care, compression and vein ablation.

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.

VenaSeal (endovenous adhesive ablation)

• What is VenaSeal?

• 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.

• Benefits of the VenaSeal procedure:

• Simple outpatient procedure performed in the office, typically in about 30 minutes
• Completed with local anesthesia
• Compared to heat-based ablation only needle stick involved
• Minimal recovery time, with most normal activities resumed immediately after the procedure
• Compression stockings not needed after procedure
• Appearance of varicose veins typically improved within a short period of time
• Covered by most insurances

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

• What is 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.

• Benefits of the RFA procedure:

• Simple outpatient procedure performed in the office, typically in less than 60 minutes
• Completed with local anesthesia
• Minimal recovery time, with most normal activities resumed immediately after the procedure
• Appearance of varicose veins typically improved within a short period of time
• Covered by most insurances

Varithena

• What is Varithena?

• The targeted vein is accessed with a small needle under ultrasound guidance.
• A Varithena solution is injected into the vein, causing the vein to collapse and close.
• Blood is redirected into other healthy veins.
  

• Benefits of Varithena:

• Simple outpatient procedure performed in the office, typically in about 30 minutes
• Completed with local anesthesia
• Minimal recovery time, with most normal activities resumed immediately after the procedure
• Appearance of varicose veins typically improved within a short period of time
• Covered by most insurances

Sclerotherapy (Asclera) 

• What is sclerotherapy?

• It involves a series of injections with a very small needle directly into spider veins.
• The injected solution (sclerosant) causes the abnormal veins to close and, over time, be reabsorbed by your body.

• Benefits of sclerotherapy:

• Simple procedure performed in the office, with no need for anesthesia
• Minimal recovery time, with most normal activities resumed immediately after the procedure
• Appearance of spider veins improved in a short period of time

What is PAD?

• 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 of PAD:

• Leg pain, cramping or fatigue with activity that improves with rest
• Leg coolness or discoloration
• Leg numbness or weakness
• Sores on your toes or feet that won’t heal

We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of PAD. Our advanced endovascular treatment options are minimally invasive and performed at our state-of-the art cardiovascular pavilion.

Diagnostic evaluation

Ankle brachial index

• A quick, non-invasive test performed in the office to screen for PAD, it involves comparing blood pressure measurements in the arms and legs.

Ultrasound

• Arterial ultrasounds are non-invasive and performed in our office. The study provides pictures and measurements of the arteries and blood flow.

Angiography 

• A diagnostic procedure, which can also be therapeutic, angiography is performed under X-ray by inserting a small catheter into the arteries and injecting contrast dye to detect narrowing or blockages. This is an outpatient procedure, performed under sedation at the Mount Nittany Medical Center Cardiovascular Pavilion.

Treatment of arterial disease

Angioplasty

• This is a 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 atherectomy or stenting.

Atherectomy

• This is a minimally invasive treatment in which a catheter with a sharp blade on the end is used to remove plaque from an artery.

Stenting

• In this minimally invasive treatment, a catheter with a stent on the end is 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.

We can help you look and feel your best. Achieve amazing results with in-office procedures that are covered by insurance.

Mount Nittany Health – Park Avenue

1850 East Park Avenue

State College, PA 16803

814.689.3140

vascular@mountnittany.org

Learn more about heart care and Mount Nittany Medical Center’s state-of-the-art cardiovascular pavilion here.

Schedule an appointment