Vein Center opens at Rutherford Regional

The official ribbon cutting opening the Vein Center on June 4.

Rutherford Regional Health System opened a new Vein Center on June 4 led by Board-certified General Surgeons Andrew Demeusy, MD, MBA, Joshua Edgerton, MD, and Laura Wittwer, MD.

"All of our surgeons specialize in general and vascular surgery," said Marty Bowser, Marketing and Communications Coordinator. "Our surgeons offer treatments for a number of venous deficiencies. We utilize Radiofrequency Ablations, this helps any pain that a patient might have because of their vein issues."

The Center also offers Sclerotherapy, a common treatment for varicose and spider veins. The Center also offers Phlebectomy which is a minimally invasive procedure to remove varicose veins if needed. After a thorough assessment with the patient, the surgeon will discuss their options and go with the procedure that will best fit their needs.

The Vein Center provides safe, minimally invasive treatment options for a variety of leg issues including spider veins, venous insufficiency, varicose veins, restless leg syndrome, leg cramps, leg pain and swelling, skin discoloration and more.

"Rutherford Regional Health System is excited to launch this new program for the many patients in our community suffering from venous disease," said Dr. Edgerton. "If varicose veins or other forms of venous disease are keeping you from enjoying the life you want, our team can help improve the health and appearance of your legs."

Over 40 million Americans suffer daily with painful, swollen legs because of venous disease. This condition is the result of faulty valves in the veins and is called Venous Insufficiency. In a healthy vein, there are one-way valves that allow the blood to move toward the heart, but not away. In a diseased vein, these valves do not work properly, allowing the blood to fall downward between heartbeats.

This back-and-forth motion of blood leads to an increased venous blood pressure resulting in inflammation of the tissues around the vein. This inflammation can cause leg pain, swelling, bulging varicose veins, heaviness, restlessness, cramps, skin discoloration, numbness, tingling, ulcers, Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots. Left untreated, this condition only worsens over time.

Payment information is available at all consultations, as treatment options are covered by most commercial insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid.

The Vein Center at Rutherford Regional Health System is located within the Outpatient Services entrance at 288 S. Ridgecrest Ave, Rutherfordton. For a full screening or consultation, call 828-286-5599. To learn more, visit MyRutherfordRegional.com