Glossary – Dallas Vein Specialists
Common Terms Used at Dallas Vein Specialists in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Varicose Veins, Spider Veins, Venous Leg Ulcers and other Vein Problems
- Aesthetic Phlebology:
- The field of medicine concerned with the removal of unsightly veins or telangiectasies (spider veins) of the skin
- Alma Harmony Laser:
- The transdermal laser for aesthetic laser and light treatments
- Augmented Reality:
- Computer generated live direct or indirect view of real-world or physical environment whose elements are enhanced (augmented)
- Board Certification:
- Official recognition of experience and expertise in a field of medical specialty by a recognized medical organization that sets standards in that medical specialty field and proclaims that the physician has met the high standards of education, training, knowledge, and practice including passing certifying examinations offered by the specialty organization
- Cherry Angioma:
- A benign (noncancerous) raised skin growth that may appear anywhere on the body, is usually small, even pinpoint in size, bright to dark red in color, and is made up of many clustered capillaries
- CLaCS:
- The revolutionary treatment of prominent veins (reticular veins) and spider veins (telangiectasia) of the legs developed by Dr. Kasuo Miyake of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in which the technologies of augmented reality, transdermal laser, sclerotherapy, and anesthesia of the skin with cold air are combined
- ClariVein:
- The name of a new endovenous ablation device that utilizes a hybrid approach of mechanical disruption and chemical treatment of the interior of the saphenous vein; the ClariVein procedure is painless, and no tumescent anesthesia is required; it has been shown to have closure rates comparable to endovenous laser and radiofrequency
- CoolTouch Endovenous Laser:
- The laser, 1320nm wavelength, used for endovenous laser ablation of abnormal veins such as the incompetent great saphenous vein of the leg; associated with high success rate and less postoperative pain and bruising than other wavelength lasers
- Cutera Excel V Laser:
- The transdermal laser for treating vascular lesions of the skin; it is unique in that it is a solid-state laser that has 2 laser wavelengths (532/1064 nm) allowing switching from one wavelength to the other seamlessly; a versatile laser used with excellent results for vascular lesions, prominent veins including spider veins, facial veins, rosacea, and pigmented lesions; this laser is also used for skin revitalization, the laser genesis procedure
- Cryo Unit:
- A machine that produces a brisk flow of very cold air that when directed on to the skin provides anesthesia of the skin
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT):
- The formation of blood clots, usually in the leg, in the deep venous system, involving such veins as the femoral, popliteal, or other veins of the calf or thigh musculature
- Dye-VL Pro:
- A high-powered phototherapy module for the Alma Laser that provides a non-invasive treatment of vascular and pigmented skin lesions; it selectively targets oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin and melanin providing excellent results in removing spider veins (telangiectasia) of the face, neck, and trunk, and in removing port wine stains, age spots, and other dark pigmented skin lesions
- Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA):
- The minimally invasive treatment of a vein using laser energy directed from within the inside of the vein and resulting in injury of the vein such that the body removes the vein by the inflammatory process
- Facial Telangiectasias:
- The small hair-like veins that may occur anywhere on the skin of the nose, cheeks, and chin
- Feeder Veins:
- Reticular vein that course in the lower layer of the skin or just below the skin that join clusters of spider veins; these reticular veins are usually incompetent, i. e. have malfunctioning venous valves, which results in regional increase in venous pressure causing spider veins
- Foam Chemical Ablation:
- The minimally invasive injection of a chemical made into a fine foam that coats the inside of a vein and through contact with the inner layer of the vein causes injury, subsequent clotting, and removal of the vein by the body’s inflammatory process
- Graduated Compression (Compression Hose):
- Differential pressure applied to the legs by hosiery that produces the greatest pressure at the ankle and less pressure as the stocking extends toward the upper thigh; this promotes proper circulation of blood within the veins and decreases pooling of the blood and swelling of the soft tissues of the leg
- Great Saphenous Vein:
- A vein of the superficial venous system of the leg coursing between the skin and muscle from the ankle along the inside aspect of each leg to the groin where diving deep it joins the deep veins of the leg; drains venous blood from the skin and fatty tissues along its course in the leg
- Hyperpigmentation (brown staining of skin):
- The darkening of the skin to a brown or rusty color; in regard to clotted veins, the staining of the skin by the migration of hemosiderin (iron) from the clot to the skin; usually slow to fade and may be permanent
- Incompetence of Venous Valves:
- Failure of the valves in the veins of the leg to close properly resulting in retrograde of backward flow of blood when standing or sitting; this results in increased pressure within the veins when standing or sitting and leads to enlargement of the veins and associated symptoms
- Inhalation Conscious Anesthesia:
- The lessening or removal of pain by the administration of inhaled medical gases
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL):
- Treatment applied to the surface of the skin using high intensity light of short duration
- Intravenous Sedation and Anesthesia:
- The production of relaxation, lessened anxiety, and pain relief by the administration of medications by injection into veins
- Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation):
- An optical device that employs a powerful beam of light that can produce and focus intense heat
- Laser Genesis:
- Skin revitalization procedure using the Cutera Excel V Laser that has been proven to increase collagen, to smooth fine-line wrinkles, to decrease redness, to improve uneven skin texture and scars, and to decrease pore size
- Laser Ablation of Veins:
- The destruction or damage of veins by laser-produced heat resulting in the eventual removal of the treated vein by the body’s inflammatory process
- Lateral Subdermic Venous Complex (Plexus):
- A system of veins located on the lateral thigh usually associated with prominent or varicose reticular veins and/or spider vein clusters
- Local Anesthesia:
- Injection of agents into the skin that result in loss of sensation such that incisions and manipulations are not felt by the patient
- Microphlebectomy (Ambulatory Phlebectomy):
- The minimally invasive removal of a varicose vein through a small puncture wound
- Minimally Invasive Procedure:
- A medical or surgical procedure that is performed without a break or a relatively small break in the skin rather than a typical open surgical approach using a larger incision
- Ohmic Thermolysis:
- Term used by VeinGogh device company to describe the heat damage to small veins of the skin that results in the disappearance of the veins
- Oral Sedation:
- The production of relaxation and lessened anxiety by the administration of medication by mouth
- Perforator Vein:
- A normal vein connection between the superficial and deep veins of the leg that when functioning normally drains blood from the skin and fatty layer of the leg into the deep veins of the leg
- Periorbital Veins:
- Prominent dark or blue veins visible and occasionally bulging in the soft tissues beneath the eye (orbit) that may extend to the lateral and temporal areas; these veins are cosmetic concerns and may contribute to a facial appearance of fatigue; they are easily treatable with minimally invasive transdermal laser application
- Phlebitis (Thrombophlebitis):
- An inflammation of a vein caused by a blood clot within the vein, usually of the leg
- Phlebology:
- The study and treatment of diseases of the veins
- Photothermolysis:
- The process of heating and causing destruction to targeted tissues using laser light; in laser treatment of veins the laser light energy is selective for the veins and the blood contained within the veins, as these tissues absorb the light resulting in heat damage of the veins and blood without injuring surrounding tissue
- Prominent Eye Veins:
- A common phrase that patients will use to describe veins of the soft tissues beneath or near the eye; such veins are described as “prominent” because of either enlargement, bulging, or blue or dark coloration or a combination of these findings; these veins are of cosmetic concern only.
- Radiofrequency:
- Energy or heat generated by electrical oscillations
- Radiofrequency Ablation of Veins:
- The destruction or damage of veins by heat generated from electrical frequency oscillations resulting in the eventual removal of the treated vein by the body’s inflammatory process
- Reflux:
- The reversal of the normal direction of flow of body fluids; in the veins of the legs the reversal of the normal flow of blood from the legs toward the heart to instead when standing or sitting toward the pull of gravity
- Reticular Veins:
- Small veins (1-2mm diameter) that course in the deeper layer of the skin or just beneath the skin at the top of the fat layer; have indistinct margins and appear bluish as opposed to spider veins (telangiectasia) that are sharply delineated and appear more reddish in color
- Rosacea:
- A chronic skin condition resulting from inflammation of the face, typically of the cheeks and nose but may involve other parts of or the entire face; enlargement of the skin vessels and an increase in small spider-like blood vessels occur; cause is unknown
- Sclerosant:
- Usually a dilute chemical solution that is injected into a vein that results in injury to the vein leading to the gradual disappearance of the vein
- Sclerotherapy:
- The practice of injecting a sclerosant or chemical into a vein for the purpose of causing damage to the vein and the ultimate disappearance of the vein
- Small Saphenous Vein (Lesser Saphenous Vein):
- A vein of the superficial venous system of the leg coursing between the skin and the muscle on the back of the leg from the outer ankle to the knee where it dives deep to connect to the deep veins of the leg; drains venous blood from the skin and fatty tissues along its course in the leg
- Spider Vein / Spider Veins (Telangiectasia):
- A small vein (average 0.1 – 1.0mm diameter) that occurs on the top layer of the skin and may occur singularly or more commonly in clusters appearing from red to blue in color
- Superficial Thrombophlebitis:
- The formation of and inflammation resulting from clots, usually of the leg, in the veins deep to the skin and superficial to the muscle
- Telangiectasias:
- Small spider-like veins on the surface of the skin occurring at random or in clusters of varying size; these small veins are well-defined on the skin surface and range from 0.1 to 1mm in diameter
- Thrombosis:
- The formation of a clot within a blood vessel
- Transdermal Laser Treatment:
- The application of light energy to treat skin lesions based on the laser’s ability to selectively interact with certain tissues without affecting other tissues, e.g. to treat veins without damaging other surrounding tissues
- Traveler’s Thrombosis:
- The term applied to the development of thrombus or clot in the deep veins of the leg after long journeys usually characterized by periods of immobility and/or cramped positions; also called “economy class syndrome” or “coach class syndrome”
- Tumescent anesthesia:
- The injection of dilute local anesthesia solution into the area surrounding a vein to be treated or removed; the injection isolates and compresses the vein, prevents pain during treatment, and protects nearby tissues from potential damage that might be caused by thermal treatments, e.g. laser or radiofrequency
- Ultrasound Study (Ultrasound Scanning or Sonography):
- A noninvasive medical test resulting in the medical imaging of structures of the body deep to the skin by the emission of sound waves and the interpretation of the returning echos received and displayed onto a video screen
- Varicose Vein / Varicose Veins:
- A superficial vein between the muscle and skin that has enlarged abnormally to become visible as a bulge on the skin of the leg as a result of the long standing effects of elevated pressure within the veins of the leg
- Vein Specialist:
- A physician or surgeon who has extensive knowledge of veins and diseases of the veins and who has concentrated his or her practice and/or research in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the veins
- VeinViewer:
- The mobile imaging system that uses infrared sensing to image veins beneath the skin up to 0.5 centimeter in depth and then project the real time Image of the vein pattern directly on the patient’s skin
- VeinGogh Treatment:
- Relatively new treatment for the removal of fine hair-like veins of the face, nose or legs that are typically too small for injection therapy; employs application of pinpoint heat generated from radiofrequency (“ohmic thermolysis”)
- Venous Hypertension:
- The abnormal increase in the pressure within the veins resulting from the abnormal function (leakage) of the valves within the veins
- Venous Incompetence (Incompetent Veins):
- Veins (blood vessels that function to return blood to the heart) that contain nonfunctioning valves resulting in the backward (reverse) flow of blood from the pull of gravity, typically in the legs when standing or sitting, leading to elevated pressure in the veins and over time development of varicose veins
- Venous Malformations:
- An abnormal cluster of blood vessels, veins, arteries or both, occurring as a birth defect and may involve any part of the body
- Venous Ulcer:
- A chronic wound or sore on the leg, commonly occurring at lower leg, ankle, or foot, that is painful, wet-appearing and associated with surrounding skin changes such as dark pigmentation and an unhealthy waxy appearance; these ulcers occur secondary to longstanding elevated pressure in the veins of the leg, are typically difficult to heal and prone to recur with usual wound medical care
- Venous Valves:
- Thin and whispy but normally strong 2-leaflet structures occurring at intervals normally in the veins of the leg and allowing blood to flow only in one direction, toward the heart, and serving to protect the vein walls from the effects of the volume and weight of the blood within the veins
