Lower limb varicose vein disease is a major problem in healthcare worldwide. About 25% of the Russian population suffers from various forms of varicose vein disease, and its prevalence and frequency continue to grow. Having a progressive irreversible course, the disease leads to various manifestations of chronic venous insufficiency, including non-healing venous ulcers and venous thromboembolism. In order to prevent the development of such serious complications, patients are encouraged to start treatment as soon as possible.
Radiofrequency ablation of veins
Radiofrequency ablation is a modern technique of minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. Our Centre has been successfully using it for several years. This method uses radiofrequency energy supplied through a catheter introduced into the vein lumen. A high-frequency alternating current eliminates negative effects on nerve and muscle tissue. It heats only the venous wall that is in direct contact with the electrode. It is associated with reduced risks of vein wall perforation and thermal injury of the adjacent tissues at the time of the procedure. The procedure is performed on VNUS (USA), Covidien AG system using a Closure FAST ™ catheter with an electrode length of 7 cm. Heating to 120 °C leads to destruction in the vein wall and its occlusion.
Radiofrequency ablation (obliteration) is performed with local anesthesia, no special preparation of the patient is required. The method can be used at different stages of the disease, including post-thrombotic syndrome of the lower limbs. The only contraindication for thermal obliteration is acute thrombosis of the deep and superficial veins of the affected limb.
The advantages of the method are minimal injury to the surrounding tissues, fast and painless recovery period. Thus, radiofrequency ablation is a highly effective and safe method for the treatment of varicose veins of the lower extremities.
VenaSeal adhesive technology
Catheter VenaSeal Sapheon Closure System
Another innovative treatment method for lower limb varicose veins is the adhesive technology VenaSeal Sapheon Closure System of Medthronic. Soon it will performed at the Research Department of Vascular and Interventional Surgery headed by Dr. Mikhail Chernyavsky. The procedure involves the placement of a medical-grade cyanoacrylate glue into the varicose veins (large or small saphenous veins) using a special catheter to «glue» the affected vein and eliminate the venous reflux without local anesthetics.
In recent years, our colleagues in Europe and the USA have been actively using this method. It has shown high efficacy in the treatment of lower limb varicose veins. In Russia, the VenaSeal technology was registered only a few months ago, and Almazov Centre specialists were among the first in the country to be able to use it in everyday practice.