Venous Ablation
Venous ablation is a newly developed process for correction of varicose veins without traditional surgery. Varicose veins are blood vessels that have lost their effectiveness and become elongated, bulged and thickened close to the skin’s surface. Any vein in the body may become varicose, but the legs and feet are most commonly affected.

As blood flows through your veins to the heart, stop-valves in your veins are supposed to close to prevent blood from flowing downward with gravity. When the valves in the vein become weak and do not close properly, they allow blood to flow backward and pool in the veins. This abnormal circulatory condition, which forces vein walls to bulge, is called venous insufficiency.

In addition to the appearance of enlarged blue or purple veins on the skin of the leg, or a brownish-gray discoloration on the ankle, varicose veins also may cause aching pain, fatigue, heaviness in the leg, burning, throbbing, cramping, swelling or itching around a vein. Many people who experience these symptoms find they need to sit down in the afternoon and elevate their legs to relieve their discomfort.

Venous ablation, a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician with specialized training. The procedure uses radiofrequency or laser energy to close faulty veins, thereby eliminating bulging and symptoms while leaving the vein in place. Venous ablation causes less trauma to the leg and results in fewer side effects than surgery.

What to expect
An ultrasound test is used to image the major vein of the leg to assess vein anatomy, valve function and blood flow changes. During vein ablation, the interventional radiologist applies a local anesthetic to the skin and then inserts a thin catheter—about the size of a strand of spaghetti—into the vein through a tiny entry point, usually near the knee.

Using imaging guidance, the catheter is guided up the great saphenous vein in the thigh. Then laser or radiofrequency energy is applied to the inside of the vein, heating and shrinking the vein walls, causing them to seal the faulty vein so blood cannot flow through it. By closing the greater saphenous vein, the varicose veins shrink and improve in appearance.

The treatment takes less than one hour. After treatment, the blood in the faulty veins is diverted to the many normal veins in the leg, re-establishing normal flow.

Patient preparation
Your doctor will give you a prescription for compression stockings. This special type of hosiery will need to be worn daily the week preceding your appointment and for one week following the procedure.

Side effects and complications
You may experience minor soreness and bruising, which can be treated with over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain relievers as needed. A few patients also experience numbness, which passes quickly. You should talk with your doctor about the possible complications of any procedure you may choose.

Follow-up care
After the procedure, your doctor may ask you to walk, wear compression stockings and refrain from rigorous activity for a period of time. Many patients resume normal activities within a day, with little or no pain. No scar appears because the procedure does not require a surgical incision.