Shannon Medical Center | Health Beat | Spring 2018

For more information on varicose veins and venous insufficiency, please call the Shannon Vein Clinic at 325-481-2340 . Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with a serious illness. Unlike hospice, palliative care is delivered no mat- ter the life expectancy of the patient. “This type of care is focused on provid- ing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness,” says Linda Hitchcock, MD, FAAFP, CAQ, CMD, Shannon Palliative Care medical director. “The goal is to im- prove quality of life for both the patient and the family.” Palliative care is provided by a team of trained doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together to provide the patient with an extra layer of support.This type of care is appropriate at any age and during any stage in a serious illness. It can be pro- vided along with curative treatment. “Palliative care is important because people are living for many years, even de- cades, with serious chronic diseases,” says Dr. Hitchcock. “By knowing the trajectory of these diseases, it allows us to pay more attention to the person living with this disease and the experience of their families. For us in palliative care, it is important pa- tients know there is support and symptom management for them and their families.” IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE Palliative care teams specialize in treating people suffering from the symptoms and stress of serious illnesses such as: ● Cancer ● Congestive heart failure (CHF) ● Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ● Kidney disease ● Alzheimer’s ● Parkinson’s ● Amyothrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) This type of care treats: ● Shortness of breath ● Pain ● Depression ● Fatigue ● Constipation ● Nausea ● Loss of appetite ● Difficulty sleeping ● Anxiety ● Additional symptoms causing distress “The goal of the palliative care team is to help you gain the strength to carry on with your daily tasks while improving the qual- ity of your life and those helping take care of you,” Dr. Hitchcock says. “The palliative care team spends time talking and listen- ing to each patient.They make sure you understand each treatment option and your choices. By deeply exploring your personal goals, the team will help you match those goals and options.” A PARTNERSHIP OF CARE Our palliative care team will work together with you, your family members and loved ones, and your other physicians.The team provides an extra layer of support when you need it most. In addition to treating your symptoms, the team spends as much time as necessary communicating with you and your family.They support you every step of the way. For more information about Shannon Palliative Care, please call 325-657-5717 . Varicose veins, and venous insufficiency, are a result of incompetent veins in the legs. Vein disease happens when the veins in the legs are damaged or do not work properly. Veins have tiny valves that keep blood flowing toward the heart. When the veins become dilated or the valves are damaged, blood flows in a retrograde, or backward, direction and pools in the legs.This causes symptoms of pain, leg heaviness or aching, swelling, itching, skin irritation or discoloration and even ulceration of the skin, especially when the pa- tient has sat or stood for long periods of time. WHAT CAUSES VEIN DISEASE? “Frequently, men and women who stand for prolonged periods of time at their jobs or have had a previous blood clot in their legs develop symptoms,” says Brandi Whitehead, PA, Shannon General Surgery Vein Clinic. “But venous insufficiency is also common among women who have had one or more pregnancies, and there is a hereditary component as well.” The diagnosis of chronic venous disease is sug- gested by the presence of typical symptoms including leg pain, heaviness and fatigue and is confirmed by the presence of venous reflux.This is diagnosed by duplex ultrasound and the duration of reversed blood flow. Initial, conservative measures for varicose veins and venous insufficiency include leg elevation and com- pression stockings.These may help mild symptoms, but they do not provide definitive, long-term treat- ment of venous insufficiency. TREATMENT OPTIONS The Shannon General Surgery Vein Clinic provides definitive treatment in the form of endovenous abla- tion (radiofrequency vein ablation) for the saphenous and other truncal veins. “This method is preferred over vein stripping and other techniques,” says Whitehead. “Endovenous techniques are highly successful in achieving vein closure which treats the diseased vein and has a very high patient satisfaction rate.” Radiofrequency vein ablation is a simple, office- based procedure that does not require anesthesia. It takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes per diseased vein, and the patient goes home as soon as the procedure is over.The procedure is very well-tolerated and most pa- tients can resume their daily activities the following day. “Patients essentially receive a few needle sticks in the legs and go home as soon as I am finished with the procedure,” says Whitehead. People experiencing chronic leg pain, fatigue, heaviness or varicose veins should be screened for venous insufficiency. Pa l l i a t i ve c a re Focused on the whole family Vein trouble Treatments for var i cose veins and chroni c venous di sease Spring 2018 3