Varicose Vein Laser vs Hospital Surgery with Anesthesia

The older procedure for the treatment of varicose veins was surgery for stripping the great saphenous vein which is the vein that goes from the inside of the ankle into the groin where it joins the deep vein.

It is usually performed in a hospital operating room with general or regional anesthesia. An incision is made at the ankle and in the groin and plastic wire is placed into the vein up to the groin. Another incision is made in the groin and the great saphenous vein is divided below where it enters the deep vein and the plastic wire is pushed through the vein so the vein is sticking out. A large cap is then screwed into the top of the plastic wire and the vein is tied underneath this. The vein is then removed by pulling the plastic wire at the ankle which causes the vein to invaginate or go inside of itself.

The leg is compressed with a heavy tape at the same time to prevent bleeding from its branches.This procedure results in a significant amount of trauma and bleeding to the surrounding tissue.

Varicose Vein Laser Treatment

The modern procedure for the treatment of varicose veins is known as endovenous laser treatment and is done in the comfort of a doctor’s office with local anesthesia only. The varicose vein laser treatment starts with the vein being imaged with ultrasound and after local anesthesia is applied to the skin, the vein is punctured with a needle. A small guide-wire is placed and a small tube is placed over the wire. The wire is removed and the laser fiber is then placed through the tube into the vein and advanced to below the junction of the deep vein.

This is all seen using ultrasound. The local anesthetic is then placed around the vein using ultrasound guidance. The laser is then turned on and slowly pulled back the length of the vein. This results in a destruction of the inside lining of the vein. The body is then able to resorb the vein with time and it disappears.

This varicose vein laser treatment procedure results in minimal trauma and bleeding to the surrounding tissue.