Archives: FAQs

  • What is venous outflow obstruction?

    Blood leaves the legs through the femoral and iliac veins. Some individuals are born with iliac vein compression, which makes it harder for blood to flow out. This can result in venous insufficiency, leg discomfort, swelling and possibly deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Sometimes a DVT can result in inflammation and scar tissue in the femoral…

  • What if I need the vein for a bypass? Won’t the ablation eliminate a vein that I may need for surgery some day?

    It is true that portions of the great saphenous vein can be used for coronary artery bypass or leg arterial bypass. However, an incompetent and dilated saphenous vein is not a good bypass conduit and surgeons do not favor them. In those cases, alternative bypass conduits such as the internal mammary (which cardiac surgeons prefer)…

  • If my legs ache or fatigue with walking, what could it mean?

    Whilst venous insufficiency (and varicose veins) may result in aching, particularly when standing, leg discomfort from walking can be the sign of an arterial problem, such as obstruction. Dr. Attaran performs a comprehensive evaluation of circulation. Arterial and venous disease can be diagnosed by ultrasound imaging, in addition to a number of other modalities available…