New Vein Clinic comes to MSH

Noreen Hyslop photo Dr. Rick Wirz, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. and Gina Moore, RVT, RPA/RA, will be conducting a free varicose veing screening Tuesday, Feb. 9 at Missouri Southern Healthcare's Vein Clinic. The two head up the new facility at the local hospital. [Click to enlarge]

It's an unsightly and often painful disease that affects an estimated 25 million people in the United States. Varicose veins are defined as swollen, distended veins, usually occurring in the legs. They are often unsightly and in many instances, painful.

Help is now close at hand for the treatment of varicose veins. A new Vein Clinic is housed at Missouri Southern Healthcare, with General Surgeon Rick Wirz, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. and Gina Moore, RVT, RPA/RA, heading up the service that offers a relatively painless and out-patient method of treatment for varicose veins and other leg pain problems.

The team uses the VNUS Closure Procedure. Simply put, the procedure implements ultrasound.

"An instrument called a Closure catheter is positioned into the diseased vein through a very small opening in the skin," Wirz explains.

Unlike the old methods that necessitated several larger cuts along the length of the diseased vein, the VNUS Closure Procedure involves the catheter as it is powered by radio-frequency energy that delivers heat to the wall of the vein.

"As the thermal energy is delivered, the vein wall shrinks and the vein is sealed closed. Once the diseased vein is closed," says Wirz, blood is rerouted to other healthy veins."

Moore explains that many factors contribute to the presence of venous reflux disease, including age, gender, family history, multiple pregnancies, obesity and working in a profession that requires excessive standing.

Left untreated, varicose veins can lead to thrombosis, which is the medical term for a blood clot. When this occurs, Moore explains, circulation becomes poor, often leading to swollen ankles, feet and legs, scaly and itchy skin, darkening of the skin and changes in temperature in the legs and feet. The disease can cause sores and ulcers to develop on the skin.

Unlike more invasive procedures, the new method allows patients to resume normal activities within 24 hours after the procedure is performed. A simple bandage is placed over the insertion site and additional compression may be provided to aid in healing, explains Regina Moore, who is a graduate of Radiology Practitioner Assistant Program with a degree in Advanced Radiologic Sciences from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Among many other credentials, Moore also is an ultrasound practitioner and is the first radiology practitioner assistant to work in the area.

Wirz and Moore will be conducting a free Varicose Vein Screening event on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Vein Clinic at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter. Anyone interested in attending the clinic should contact the Vein Care Clinic at 573-624-9936 for further information.