Varicose veins – new treatment

Each year 10 000 – 15 000 patients in Norway have surgery for varicose veins. So-called stripping has up until now been the most commonly used technique to remove varicose veins. Now there are new methods based on thermotherapy and denaturation of damaged veins.

More women than men suffer from varicose veins. Many women get their first varicose veins during pregnancy. Standing straight up and down and walking around a lot can also cause varicose veins. Using compression stockings or socks can help prevent varicose veins, but for those who are hardest hit, this is not enough. Some families seem to be harder hit than others. A blood clot in a vein causes damage to the lining of the vein, which increases the risk of having varicose veins. Varicose veins are most common in the legs as that is where there is highest pressure.

Thermotherapy and denaturation
The advantage of thermotherapy and denaturation of the vein rather than stripping, is that the patient can go home without a long canal on thigh and calf filled with blood, needing many weeks to heal. For the surgeon it can seem easier and more affordable to pull out the vein by stripping rather than letting the sound from the generator decide how to pull the RF probe. But the postoperative patient will notice a remarkable difference. The surgery can be performed with local anesthesia combined with intravenous sedation. The probe can be inserted by using simple flebotomy.

The Celon method
The Celon method (bipolar radiofrequency induced thermotherapy) is a minimally invasive procedure for the endovenous treatment of insufficient saphenous veins, in particular, the great saphenous vein. During this procedure veins are gently heated to temperature of 60 ° to 85 °C using an ultra-thin RFITT applicator inserted into the vein. This localized and precisely delivered application of radiofrequency energy causes the vein to shrink and close. Following treatment, the vein remains in the body and is then no longer visible.