New Treatments For Varicose Veins
Varicose veins were treated by a surgery called vein stripping. This required patients to go to the hospital and be put to sleep. The recovery from this surgery was often very long, and patients were often not happy with their results. The surgery also caused a lot of pain and bruising as the patient recovered.
Thermal Ablation
About 25 years ago, a new varicose vein surgery called thermal ablation was invented, that has largely replaced vein stripping surgery. During this procedure, a small catheter is placed on the inside of the vein with the use of ultrasound. We then surround the vein with a fluid called tumescent anesthesia, which absorbs any heat that leaves the vein. This fluid has pain medicine in it, so patients feel only mild discomfort during the procedure. This anesthetic fluid also helps decrease the risk of heat around the nerves or the skin in the area of treatment. The catheter uses heat to treat the inner lining of the vein, which then causes the vein to be reabsorbed by the body. Patients generally wear compression stockings for one week after this procedure.
Non-Thermal Non-Tumescent Procedures
In the last few years, new procedures have been invented for treating varicose veins that do not require heat to close off the vein. They are referred to as non-thermal non-tumescent procedures (NTNT). Because these procedures don’t use heat to close off the varicose veins, we do not have to place fluid around the vein as an anesthetic. This means fewer pinpricks during the procedures.
VenaSeal
One of the new advances in the treatment of varicose veins is the use of adhesives to close off leaky veins. This procedure is called VenaSeal, which the FDA approved in 2015. A surgical adhesive similar to super glue is used to close the vein.
Similar to the thermal procedures, a catheter is placed in the leaky vein and advanced up the superficial veins. We then place small droplets of adhesive in the vein as the catheter is removed from the body. With this technique, tumescent anesthesia is not required, nor is compression therapy after the procedure.
Varithena
Sclerotherapy is a commonly used approach to treat small, medium and larger varicose veins. Recently, Varithena, which is a specialized sclerotherapy solution, was approved for use in the US. This is high-quality foam sclerotherapy that retains its confirmation for a longer time and therefore is more effective at closing the varicose veins. In this procedure, a catheter is placed on the inside of the vein, and foam bubbles are injected, which causes the veins to spasm, and close off.
Clarivein
Clarivein is another new procedure for treating varicose veins that do not require fluid to be placed around the vein. In this procedure, a catheter is placed in the vein and advanced up the leaky vein. A metal wire is advanced at the upper end of the varicose vein. This wire rotates at 3000 RPM’s and damages the inner lining of the vein. As the catheter is being removed, a chemical is injected into the vein that further damages the inner lining of the vein, which causes the vein to close off.
Thermal Ablation
About 25 years ago, a new varicose vein surgery called thermal ablation was invented, that has largely replaced vein stripping surgery. During this procedure, a small catheter is placed on the inside of the vein with the use of ultrasound. We then surround the vein with a fluid called tumescent anesthesia, which absorbs any heat that leaves the vein. This fluid has pain medicine in it, so patients feel only mild discomfort during the procedure. This anesthetic fluid also helps decrease the risk of heat around the nerves or the skin in the area of treatment. The catheter uses heat to treat the inner lining of the vein, which then causes the vein to be reabsorbed by the body. Patients generally wear compression stockings for one week after this procedure.
Non-Thermal Non-Tumescent Procedures
In the last few years, new procedures have been invented for treating varicose veins that do not require heat to close off the vein. They are referred to as non-thermal non-tumescent procedures (NTNT). Because these procedures don’t use heat to close off the varicose veins, we do not have to place fluid around the vein as an anesthetic. This means fewer pinpricks during the procedures.
VenaSeal
One of the new advances in the treatment of varicose veins is the use of adhesives to close off leaky veins. This procedure is called VenaSeal, which the FDA approved in 2015. A surgical adhesive similar to super glue is used to close the vein.
Similar to the thermal procedures, a catheter is placed in the leaky vein and advanced up the superficial veins. We then place small droplets of adhesive in the vein as the catheter is removed from the body. With this technique, tumescent anesthesia is not required, nor is compression therapy after the procedure.
Varithena
Sclerotherapy is a commonly used approach to treat small, medium and larger varicose veins. Recently, Varithena, which is a specialized sclerotherapy solution, was approved for use in the US. This is high-quality foam sclerotherapy that retains its confirmation for a longer time and therefore is more effective at closing the varicose veins. In this procedure, a catheter is placed on the inside of the vein, and foam bubbles are injected, which causes the veins to spasm, and close off.
Clarivein
Clarivein is another new procedure for treating varicose veins that do not require fluid to be placed around the vein. In this procedure, a catheter is placed in the vein and advanced up the leaky vein. A metal wire is advanced at the upper end of the varicose vein. This wire rotates at 3000 RPM’s and damages the inner lining of the vein. As the catheter is being removed, a chemical is injected into the vein that further damages the inner lining of the vein, which causes the vein to close off.
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