Varicose veins can now be treated by nonsurgical methods- endovenous ablation or foam sclerotherapy are both simple walk-in / walk-out procedures. The safety and efficacy of these procedures are such that surgery for varicose veins is likely to become obsolete. These new procedures are performed in Christchurch and Dunedin by Dr Little, a fellow of the Australasian College of Phlebology.
Vein Sclerotherapy has been a speciality treatment in Europe since the 1960's. It is an injection technique for treating various vein conditions such as; varicose veins, reticular veins, spider veins of the leg, and also some fine facial veins. Varicose and spider veins are predominant in women and affect about 40% of the population.
Not only are they unsightly, sufferers endure symptoms such as aching, heavy, tired legs, throbbing, tingling, burning and cramps. Treatment is effected by injecting a sclerosant into the vein, this reacts with the inside of the vein and body reacts by shutting it down. This diverts the blood back into the deeper, normal veins. The procedure is virtually painless and therefore requires no anaesthetic.Treatments of varicose veins are followed by the wearing of compression hosiery for up to two weeks.
Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for the smaller spider or thread veins, which are so common on the face and legs. Nowadays, with the help of ultrasound guidance to visualise the problem veins and deeper valves even the largest of varicose veins are treated safely this way.
Sclerotherapy is a 30 minute, virtually painless procedure with huge advantages over surgery, including no general anaesthetics, no stitches, no hospitalisation and no time off work. It is a walk-in, walk-out procedure with costs about half of surgery.
After using ultrasound-guided mapping of the vein the Doctor will insert a catheter into the vein. Then you will be injected with an anaesthetic to numb the leg and helps squeeze blood out of the vein to protect surrounding tissue. Energy in the form of radiofrequency (Vnus closure®) or laser light (EVLT) creates a heat ideally of 85 degrees emitted from the catheter to heat the vein wall. This causes it to shrink and close, redirecting blood to healthier veins. This procedure takes around 1 hour.
This webpage provides further information: www.vnus.com/navigation/patients.htm
Information Sheet to Download:
Sclerotherapy Patient Information
Before and After Treatment Instructions
You may print the instruction and information sheets if you wish.
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