ENDOVENOUS LASER

Today there are several different procedures that can be used in the treating of varicose veins.  One particular procedure that is proving very effective and which was only invented in 1998 is Endovenous Laser Ablation or AVLA. 

Certainly since the initial studies were carried out where the use of heat to destroy the vein was involved several new lasers have been developed.  These new Endovenous lasers work on different wavelengths and use different fibres so causing the energy to be delivered in a different way. 

Today you will find that there are several different versions of this form of laser treatment for dealing with varicose veins on the market today.  However the procedure that they use is basically the same for each one. 

So what exactly happens when this procedure is carried out?  Below we take a brief look at what this procedure is.

First off a fine needle will be inserted into the vein and then after this a fine wire is passed through it to the vein also.  Once the wire is in place then a long tube is passed over it and then the wire will be removed and so allowing the tube inserted to remain in place in the vein. 

Next an anaesthetic solution is delivered to the area surrounding the vein known as tumescent anaesthesia and this helps to provide protection to the area surrounding the vein.  Once the anaesthetic has taken affect then the surgeon will place the laser fibre down the tube so it then enters the vein to be treated.  All of these procedures are watched by the surgeon using ultrasound equipment. 

Use of ultrasound helps to ensure that the laser fibre is accurately positioned and once the surgeon is satisfied with the location of the fibre then the treatment can commence.  The laser will be fired and as it is the sheath with the laser fibre protruding from its end by 2cm is pulled back down the vein being treated at the relevant speed.  Normally the surgeon will pull the sheath back along the vein so that it travels a distance of 1cm every 5 to 6 seconds.    Also as the surgeon begins to pull the sheath and laser back along the vein they must make sure that it is delivering energy of between 60 and 80 Jules for each cm of the vein. 

The reason that the laser must be producing this level of energy is because research has shown that this is what effectively helps to destroy the vein.  Also keeping the levels of energy to this will help to ensure that very little if no bruising occurs to the area being treated or for the person being treated feeling any pain following the procedure being carried out. 

After the procedure has been carried out and the vein has been destroyed the person’s body will then work on rerouting the blood through other veins.  So ensuring that it flows correctly throughout in the future. 

There are many advantages for why people are choosing to undergo this form of treatment.  The main one of these being that unlike conventional stripping out of the affected vein the vein is closed where it is.    Plus there is no need for the vein to actually be removed yet it won’t have the ability to be able to grow once more.  This is because the energy of the laser has caused the proteins found in the vein wall to be denatured.  As a result this means that the defence system of the person’s body being treated no longer recognise the vein as being part of it and white blood cells then come along and attack and destroy the vein until it has been removed completely. 

But along with this form of treatment for removal of varicose veins being far less invasive there are a number of other reasons that people are opting to undergoing the procedure known as Endovenous laser.  These include that they treatment only normally takes around an hour to complete, also it is a procedure that allows you to return back to normal activities quite quickly.  Plus of course this form of treatment provides people with immediate relief from the symptoms associated with varicose veins and Spider veins.