WHAT IS VENOUS STENTING?

 

Venous stenting is a minimally

 invasive procedure used to

improve blood flow when a vein is

 narrowed or compressed. This

helps restore healthy blood flow.

The stent is a wire mesh tube that

 is permanently placed in a vein and

 acts as a scaffolding to keep veins

 open.

WHY MIGHT I NEED

 VENOUS STENTING?

 

Venous stents can help people with

 chronic blood clots or other

conditions that compress or

narrow the veins, limiting blood

 flow. These conditions include:

 

• May-Thurner Syndrome: the artery

 that runs from your abdomen to

your right leg, the right iliac artery,

 presses against the left iliac vein.

 This causes it to narrow and scar,

 leading to chronic left leg

swelling, pain, and sometimes

fatigue.

 

• Chronic deep vein thrombosis

 (DVT): DVT is a blood clot in one

of the large, deep veins that

returns blood from the leg, or

 sometimes from the arm, to the

heart and lungs.

 

• Post-thrombotic syndrome: DVT

 can damage veins, which can lead

 to symptoms such as chronic

swelling and pain. People may not

 suffer the symptoms of post-

thrombotic syndrome until years

 after DVT.

 

• Nutcracker syndrome: the arteries

 near the kidney compress the left

 renal vein, making blood flow

backward and causing symptoms

 like flank pain and blood in the

urine.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS

OF VENOUS STENTING?

 

• Bleeding, swelling caused by a

 collection of blood (hematoma),

 injury to nerves or infection.

 

• Damage to an artery or an artery

 wall. This can cause blood clots,

 abnormal ballooning of the artery,

 or abnormal link between the

artery and nearby vein.

 

• Temporary kidney failure. Please

notify your provider if you have had

 recent imaging testing that

included contrast, as this would

increase your risk for kidney issues.

 

 

TELL YOUR HEALTHCARE

 PROVIDER IF YOU:

 

• Are pregnant or think you may be

 pregnant. Radiation exposure

during pregnancy may lead to

 birth defects.

 

• Are allergic to or sensitive to

 any medications, contrast, latex,

tape, or anesthetic medicines

(local or general). *Have kidney

failure or other kidney problems. In

 some cases, the contrast can

cause kidney failure. You are at

higher risk for this if you take

certain diabetes medicines. You

may need to hold certain

medications prior to the procedure.

 

• Are taking any medication that

 include prescriptions, over-the-

counter, and herbal supplements.

 

• Have a bleeding disorder or take

blood thinners, aspirin, or

medications or supplements that

affect blood clotting. These may

have to be stopped prior to the

 procedure.

HOW DO I GET READY FOR

 A VENOUS STENTING?

 

• You will need to have blood work

 prior to your procedure. You

should receive an order from

 your physician.

 

• You will be asked not to eat

after midnight prior to the

procedure. You may have clear

liquids 2 hours before your

arrival time.

 

• Bring your insurance card and

 picture ID with you to the

appointment. You may bring an

 adult guest with you.

 

• You will need a driver to your

 appointment. If you need

transportation, please let the

office know so that we can

arrange it for you.

WHAT HAPPENS PRIOR

TO VENOUS STENTING?

 

• You will read and sign your

consent that gives your permission

 for the procedure to be performed.

 You will have the opportunity to

ask your provider questions and

have anything explained that you

do not understand .

 

• You will be asked to remove any

 clothing or jewelry that may get in

 the way of the test. You will be

given a gown to wear. You will be

 asked to empty your bladder prior

 to the test.

 

• An intravenous (IV) line will be

 started in your hand or arm. You

 will be connected to a monitor

that records your heart rate, blood

 pressure, and breathing.

 

• You may get medication to help

 you relax before the procedure.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING

 VENOUS STENTING?

 

Your skin will be cleansed near your

 groin, on the top part of both of

your thighs. The skin will be

 injected with a local pain

medication to numb the area. A

catheter will be placed in the

larger vein in each thigh. The

catheter will be advanced for

imaging of each leg. Intravascular

 ultrasound may be used, as well as

 contrast. Fluoroscopy is used to

 see the catheter. When contrast is

 injected, you may feel a warm,

 flushing sensation, salty or metallic

 taste, a brief headache, or nausea.

 These effects usually last for a few

 moments.

 

• A Certified Sedation nurse

monitors you 1-on-1 during your

 procedure.  You will receive

anesthesia that allows for

conscious sedation. The

medication will make you feel very

 relaxed and alleviate any pain. you

 may drift to sleep. You will not be

 intubated and can breathe

comfortably and unassisted.

 Supplemental oxygen is used

during anesthesia.

 

• Tell the physician or nurse if you

 experience any trouble breathing,

 sweating, numbness, or heart

 palpitations.

 

• If it is determined that an

intervention is needed and can be

 done at that time, (percutaneous

 balloon or stenting) it can be done

 during the procedure. These

procedures are included in the

consent form as treatment

possibilities.

 

• Once the procedure is completed,

 the physician will remove the

catheters. Pressure will be applied

 to the site to keep it from bleeding.

 Manual pressure will be used to

 close the puncture site. After the

 bleeding stops, a dressing will be

 applied on the sites.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER

 VENOUS STENTING?

 

• You will be taken to the recovery

 room. A nurse will watch your vital

 signs and the access site(s). They

 will check the circulation and

sensation in your extremities.

 

• Depending on the closure device

 used, you will be discharged after

 a period of rest and no signs of

 bleeding.

 

• You will be encouraged to drink

 water and fluids to help flush the

 contrast from your body.

 

• You will receive written discharge

 instructions about returning to

your daily activities and how to

care for your bandage and

incision site.

AT HOME

 

• Once home, you should watch the

 injection site for bleeding. A small

 bruise is normal. So is an

occasional drop of blood at the

 site.

 

• You should watch your arm or

leg for changes in temperature,

color, pain, numbness, tingling, or

 loss of movement.

 

• Drink plenty of fluids to help the

 contrast leave your body. You may

 not be able to do any strenuous

 activities or take a bath or shower

 for a period of time after the

procedure.

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