Endovenous Ablation Treatment

What is Endovenous Ablation?

Varicose veins are abnormally large veins which commonly occur in the legs. Generally, blood is being circulated from the heart to the legs through the arteries and back to the heart via veins. Veins contain one-way valves which only allow blood to return from the legs against the force of gravity. If this one way valves leak, blood pools in the veins, and they can result in the veins to become varicose or enlarge. Endovenous ablation is a minimally invasive and image-guided treatment used for treating varicose veins. It uses laser energy or radiofrequency for cauterizing and closing the abnormal veins which result in varicose veins.

Common uses of the procedure:

Although this procedure can be used for cosmetic purposes, it is generally used for helping ease symptoms related to varicose veins in the legs. Leg symptoms can include the following:

• Throbbing or aching pain
• Leg heaviness/fatigue
• Swelling
• Skin soreness or irritation
• Skin discoloration
• Inflammation in the vein

Free Consultation on WhatsApp

How should an individual prepare for the procedure?

The patients should report to their doctor all medications that they are taking ( even the herbal supplements) and if an individual has any allergies, mainly due to general anesthesia, local anesthetic medications, or to any other contrast materials which carry iodine. The physician may instruct the patients to stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin or blood thinners for a specific period of time before the patients undergo the procedure. The patients should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing. The patients will be required to remove all their jewelry and clothing in the area to be examined. The patients should plan to have a friend or relative for driving them home after the procedure. The patients may be asked to wear a gown during their procedure.

What does the procedure involve?

Ultrasound is used for visualizing the varicose vein. A radiofrequency or laser fiber electrode is advanced to the particular location within the vein via an IV. Local anesthesia is being injected for collapsing the vein around the laser and which also act as insulation for the heat of the laser energy or radiofrequency. Radiofrequency or laser energy is then applied, for heating the vessel and result in it to close. After the procedure, the faulty vein will scar down and shrink.

How is the procedure performed?

Image-guided, minimally invasive procedures like endovenous ablation are done by a highly trained interventional radiologist. This surgery is usually an ambulatory surgery (outpatient surgery). However, some of the patients may need admission following the surgery. The patients must consult with their physician as to whether or not they will be admitted. The physician may use a topical anesthetic cream and apply over the abnormal vein area before the surgery took place in order for reducing the discomfort. The leg that is being treated will be sterilized, cleaned, and covered with the help of surgical drape. The physician will numb the site where the catheter will enter into the abnormal vein with the use of a local anesthetic and the ultrasound transducer or wand will be used for studying the vein and thus tracking its path. A very small cut is being made at the surgical area. With the use of ultrasound guidance, a catheter or vascular access sheath is inserted through the skin and positioned within the abnormal vein. The radiofrequency electrode or laser fiber is being inserted through the catheter and the tip of the electrode or fiber is exposed by pulling the catheter back slightly. A local anesthetic is injected around the abnormal vein with ultrasound guidance. Laser or radiofrequency energy is applied as the catheter is slowly withdrawn. Pressure will be applied so as to prevent any bleeding and the opening in the skin will be covered with the help of a bandage. No sutures are required. This surgery is often completed within an hour.

Benefits

• No surgical cuts are being required only a small cut in the skin is required which will not be stitched.
• When Endovenous Alvation is compared with traditional vein stripping techniques, it is more effective, has less complication, and the patients experience less pain during the recovery when the patients have undergone the Endovenous Albation.
• Endovenous ablation is usually safe and complication free.
• This surgery leaves no scars because of the fact that catheter placement in the skin requires only the openings of a few millimeters, not large cuts.
• Endovenous ablation gives a less invasive as compared to that of the standard surgery.
• Most of the veins that are being treated are invisible even to ultrasound 12 months after the surgery.
• Most of the patients report symptom relief and are able to return to their day to day activities with no time, with little or with no pain.

Risks

• Any surgery where the skin is being penetrated carries a big risk of infection. The chance of infection that needs antibiotic treatment appears to be less than 1 in one thousand.
• Any surgery that involves the placement of a catheter inside the patient’s blood vessel carries various risks. These risks include the blood vessel getting damaged, bleeding or bruising at the puncture area, and infection. However, precautions need to be taken to mitigate these risks.
• Some post-surgery tenderness and bruising may occur, but these may be eased by a compression stocking.
• It is very rare, but in some instances, there may be heat (thermal) damage to nerves. This complication usually goes away in a short time.
• Thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the vein) is not very common and but results in pain and redness over the treated site, but usually responds to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as well as by applying the ice over the site.
• Blood clots that are formed in the veins can move to the lungs (pulmonary embolism); but, this occurs at an extremely rare circumstance.

Free Consultation on WhatsApp