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Previously, treatment was far more involved and required surgical procedures like vein stripping. Today, due to the tremendous advances in technology, minimally invasive techniques have become the gold standard for vein treatment, including radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser treatment, venaseal, and sclerotherapy. In this article, we will provide an essential guide to the unique technologies being incorporated in the best vein clinics across the country.
Source: https://www.princetonvascular.com/vein-treatments/
RF ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure that is the gold standard in current treatments for venous insufficiency. It involves direct insertion of a small catheter into the unhealthy vein. The catheter is designed to deliver heat energy into the vein causing it to collapse and ultimately reroute blood to the numerous healthy veins in your legs. The procedure is done within the office setting and can be completed with just local anesthesia. Most patients are able to continue their normal activity soon after treatment.
VenaSeal is the latest technology to receive FDA-approval for the treatment of varicose veins. In contrast to ablation, VenaSeal is a medical adhesive that is deposited to close off diseased vein segments. The major advantage is eliminating the need for thermal treatments of the vein that usually require more local anesthetic. Additionally, there is no need for any post-treatment compression stockings due to the unique nature of VenaSeal.
Endovenous laser treatment is similar to radiofrequency ablation, but it uses laser energy instead of heat energy. Utilizing ultrasound guidance, a laser fiber is inserted into the problematic vein through a tiny incision in the skin. Laser energy is delivered directly into the vein to close it permanently. Over time, the vein is gradually reabsorbed by the body as opposed to being removed in typical stripping procedures. The major difference is the quick-recovery time and improved long term results.
Varithena is a specially formulated microfoam utilizing a common medication, polidocanol. It is often the perfect compliment to endovenous techniques such as ablation or VenaSeal. Residual segments of diseased veins are targeted by the microfoam for complete relief of symptoms. A typical session is completed in the office with direct injection of the medication into varicose veins. Varithena has also been used commonly in recurrent vein disease, particularly the difficult anatomies noted after a prior history of vein stripping.
