University of Virginia Health System

Amazing Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins

MANY VARICOSE VEINS CAN NOW BE SAFELY AND EASILY TREATED
Interventional radiologists at the University  of Virginia have an exciting new way to treat varicose veins called endovenous laser ablation.   In this procedure, a tiny laser fiber is used to make varicose veins shrink away. The laser is used to treat a long straight vein just under the skin on the inside of the leg called the saphenous vein. It is often the culprit in the development of varicose veins.

VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are not usually a serious health problem, but they are unsightly and can cause pain, swelling and skin changes.  Healthy veins pump blood back to the heart with a series of one-way valves that prevent the backward flow of blood and the build up of pressure.  When we are standing there is a lot of pressure pushing blood back down towards our feet. If these one-way valves are not working, blood can pool in the leg veins causing the veins to enlarge.  Varicose veins are dilated veins just under the skin.

VARICOSE VEINS ARE COMMON
Approximately 25 to 40-percent of all women and 10 to 25 -percent of all men have vein problems in the legs.  Women are more likely to develop varicose veins than men.  Hormones, birth control pills and pregnancy seem to play a role in the development of varicose veins.  Other risk factors include obesity, prolonged standing or sitting and a family history of vein problems.  Varicose veins can also be associated with more serious blockages in the deeper leg veins as well.

TREATMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS
When varicose veins cause leg symptoms such as pain, heaviness, tiredness, non healing sores, areas of changes in skin color along ankle treatment should be considered.  Conservative management with support hose and avoiding prolonged standing is sometimes all that is required, but sometimes this is not enough.  Prior to other treatments an ultrasound examination of the leg veins is done.  This simple test guides physicians in deciding which therapy, if any, is best.  

In patients that we recommend endovenous laser treatment, a small laser fiber is inserted through the skin and into the abnormal saphenous vein.   The laser creates heat in the abnormal vein and this heat causes the vein to shrink.  “The laser light heats only the blood and vessel,” says Dr. Angle.  “The heat kills the cells lining the vein and seals the vein closed.”  During this outpatient procedure, the skin over the abnormal vein is numbed with a local anesthetic (similar to what a dentist uses) which means the laser does not hurt.  The procedure takes about 60 minutes.  Persons who have this procedure should be able to return to work the following day.  In addition to a short recovery time, other benefits include less cost and no scarring.  A noticeable decrease in the size of varicose veins is usually seen in a couple of weeks. The body compensates for the missing vein by rerouting the blood flow to other healthy veins.

See also our reprint from UVa Health Talk

This new procedure is offered by J. Fritz Angle, MD at the UVa Imaging Outpatient Imaging Center in Fontaine Park.

Candidates for this procedure are first seen for an office visit.  This initial visit includes an ultrasound which can identify who is a candidate for the procedure.

There are risks associated with this procedure which include  numbness around the treated area, the development of blood clots in the deeper veins, and bruising.