Common Conditions
Varicose Veins: Endoluminal treatments
Overview | What
veins do | Surgery | Injections/Foam
| Endoluminal/Laser | Operative Info Sheet
New techniques have recently been reported in some newspapers and
magazines. The main aim of these techniques is to decrease the discomfort,
time off work and scarring associated with traditional surgical
methods Some of the newer treatments can be carried out as out-patient
procedures and do not require the use of a general anaesthetic i.e.
can be done under local anaesthetic.
Radiofrequency ablation
A catheter is passed along the vein from the calf towards the groin.
The tip of the wire is heated electrically and the vein is gradually
destroyed as the catheter is withdrawn. The progress of the tip
is monitored using ultrasound imaging. There is a small risk of
damage to the main vein (femoral) of the leg and there are concerns
that the procedure may not completely disconnect the varicose veins
from the deep veins. However, the up side is that there is no need
for a groin incision and the amount of discomfort and bruising in
the thigh is minimal. The author has abandoned this technique in
favour of the similar but easier and quicker laser based endoluminal
techniques.
Find out more
Endoluminal Venous Laser Ablation
Similar to the radio frequency ablation technique, here a laser
fibre is threaded up the main vein feeding the varicosities under
ultrasound guidance. Activation of the laser heats up the vein,
gradually destroying it as the fibre is withdrawn. There still are
a number of minor incisions along the varicosities where multiple
phlebectomies are undertaken. The entire procedure can be undertaken
with local anaesthetic.
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