Dr. Yan Katsnelson, Founder and CEO of USA Vein Clinics, recently appeared on iHeart Radio’s WOR710-The Voice of New York to discuss President Trump’s diagnosis of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI).
With over 168 clinics nationwide, Dr. Katsnelson, a Harvard-trained heart surgeon, emphasized that CVI is a very common and easily diagnosable condition. He noted the positive news that the President’s symptoms, primarily ankle swelling, pointed to CVI rather than a more severe cardiac issue.
Understanding Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)
CVI occurs when the valves in the leg veins, which are designed to push blood back up to the heart, become damaged or weakened. This causes blood to pool in the legs, resulting in increased pressure and a range of associated symptoms. Beyond swelling in the ankles and legs, common signs include aching, heaviness, cramping, itching, skin discoloration (often reddish-brown near the ankles), and in more advanced cases, varicose veins or even slow-healing leg ulcers. While CVI is a chronic condition, it is manageable with various treatments. These can range from lifestyle modifications like regular exercise and elevating the legs to wearing compression stockings and minimally invasive procedures such as radiofrequency ablation or sclerotherapy, which close off damaged veins and redirect blood flow to healthy ones.