The Venous Health Program (VHP) at the University of Michigan Health Frankel Cardiovascular Center is an all-inclusive resource for the treatment of venous disease. This program brings together established and experienced vascular surgeons, vascular medicine specialists, interventional radiologists, nurse practitioners and registered vascular technologists to provide seamless multidisciplinary care. In this unique and collaborative approach, vein experts provide the most comprehensive care for venous health and specialize in unusual and severe venous disease conditions.
Conditions We Treat
VHP providers diagnose and manage a wide spectrum of venous diseases. Patients with the following conditions may benefit from the VHP:
- Pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter complications
- Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome
- Phlebolymphedema
- Pelvic venous disease
- May-Thurner syndrome
- Nutrcracker syndrome
- Ovarian vein reflux
- Pelvic floor, perineal and vulvar varicosities
- Varicocele
- Post-thrombotic syndrome
- Superficial vein disease
- Superficial vein reflux
- Painful varicose veins
- Venous occlusions
- Chronic deep venous thrombosis
- Congenital vein occlusion (IVC agenesis)
- Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome
- Venous stent malposition or occlusion
- Venous ulcers
Services
Services include:
- An on-site accredited ultrasound lab, including new non-invasive specialized testing of iliac and pelvic veins.
- Compression garment and lymphedema pump fprescriptions.
- Venous wound evaluation.
- Review of previous imaging tests for venous disease (ultrasound, CT, MRI, venography).
- Second opinions and evaluations for venous interventions and operations.
- Medical management of vein disease including use of non-pharmacologic natural supplements.
- Multidisciplinary review of complex venous diseases at monthly team conference.
- Urgent appointments for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (venous thromboembolis, or VTE).
- Collaboration with internal and external specialists in hematology, OB/GYN, gastroenterology, urology and other specialties to best direct your care.
Interventions and Procedures
Treatment options for venous disease vary depending on the diagnosis and can range from medical therapies to surgical correction. VHP providers offer advanced surgical and procedural options, including:
Superficial vein disease
Deep vein disease
- Renal vein transposition: a surgical procedure to relocate the vein draining the left kidney in order to relieve compression
- Venous bypass surgery: a surgical procedure to create a new pathway for blood to flow past existing blockages in veins
- Endophlebectomy: a surgical procedure to remove lingering obstructive clots and scar tissue from the inside of veins in order to restore blood flow
- Venous recanalization and reconstruction: a catheter-based procedure to reopen previously blocked veins or create new paths for blood flow, often performed concurrently with angioplasty and stent placement
- Venous angioplasty: a procedure using X-ray and/or ultrasound guidance to dilate narrowed or blocked vein catheters
- Venous stenting: a procedure using X-ray and/or ultrasound guidance in which a flexible metallic stent is placed in a previously narrowed or blocked vein to improve blood flow
- Thrombectomy and thrombolysis: a procedure in which a blood clot is removed (thrombectomy) or dissolved (thrombolysis) using special catheters
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter removal: a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to retrieve temporary filters after they are no longer needed
- Embolization: a minimally invasive procedure to block wrong-way blood flow by placing metallic coils or plugs in the vein, performed most for patients with pelvic congestion syndrome, ovarian vein reflux or varicocele
- Diagnostic venography: a minimally invasive procedure to detect problems in veins using contrast dye or alternative contrast agents (such as carbon dioxide) in patients with contrast allergies
- Diagnostic intravascular ultrasound: a minimally invasive procedure in which a small ultrasound catheter is placed in the vein
An exciting new offering is the pelvic venous duplex for suspected left renal vein (nutcracker) compression, left ovarian/gonadal vein symptoms (vulvar, uterine varices or varicoceles), iliac vein compression (may-thurner syndrome) and iliac stent surveillance. All referred patients are provided with personalized compression options for symptomatic relief.
Research
The VHP offers a variety of clinical trials for patients with vein disease, including new offerings in venous stents, thrombectomy devices and absorbable, temporary IVC filters. Patients can opt to donate blood or tissue samples from their procedures for investigations aimed at discovering new therapeutics via the Jobst Lab. The VHP program participates in multiple national patient safety organization databases aimed at tracking post-market outcomes related to venous treatments.
- Learn more about Venous Clinical Trials
- For information on qualifying for a clinical trial, please contact: [email protected]
- For more information on how to support our research, please email: [email protected]
Make an Appointment
Providers: Physician offices referring a patient to the VHP should contact M-LINE at 800-962-3555.