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Q: varicose vein treatment

asked by: Corbett on April 17th, 2008

New User

I went to a well advertised varicose vein clinic regarding this ugly vericose vein that I have running along the inside of my knee (I got this during pregnancy). I was mainly interested in the fact that they offered radiofrequency treatment (as opposed to laser or stripping) due to the fact that it was painless and didnt leave bruising.

The dr. stated that Radiofrequency was "unnecessary" and instead recommended ambulatory phlebectomy (tearing the vein out). This would be an hour long procedure where I would have an IV and be drugged up and be partially out of it.

My question is 1. What does he mean by unnecessary and 2. Why would he be so against using such a less severe treatment versus surgery?

Replies(1)

ArCkay

replied on June 29th, 2009

New User

ablation radiofrequency when is it appropriate

RFA is generally used for large, relatively straight veins that have incompetent valves. I suspect that the doctor did not find incompetent valves (or "reflux") in veins amenable to RFA (such as the great or small saphenous vein or a perforating vein). Instead you may have a varicose tributary vein that is too small or too tortuous to pass a larger catheter. In such a case, RFA or endovenous laser, would not be useful, hence not "necessary." Ambulatory phlebectomy or injection sclerotherapy would be appropriate methods for ablating such a vein.

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