RT Book, Section
A1 Beasley, Karen L.
A1 Weiss, Robert A.
A2 Avram, Marc R.
A2 Avram, Mathew M.
A2 Ratner, Désirée
SR Print(0)
ID 1175095804
T1 Minimally Invasive Treatment of Varicose Veins
T2 Procedural Dermatology
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071795067
LK dermatology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1175095804
RD 2024/04/20
AB The  development  of  minimally  invasive  methods  to  heat,  denature,  and  shrink  varicose  veins  has  been  a  major  achievement  in  the  field  of  phlebology  and  medicine.  Minimally  invasive  endovenous  occlusion  techniques  using  radiofrequency  (RF)  or  laser  are  now  the  standard  of  care  in  the  United  States.  When  saphenous  venous  system  reflux  is  present,  it  must  be  addressed  prior  to  the  treatment  of  visible  associated  varicosities,  reticular  veins  or  telangiectasias.  Without  elimination  of  reflux,  the  patient  will  be  doomed  to  recurrence  of  the  varicosities  and  smaller  vessels  below  the  level  of  saphenous  vein  reflux.  Previously,  the  only  treatment  option  for  these  patients  with  varicose  veins  from  saphenous  insufficiency  was  surgical  ligation  and  stripping  of  the  vessels  under  general  anesthesia.  This  procedure  resulted  in  significant  postoperative  down  time  with  surgical  scars,  swelling,  bruising,  and  pain.  The  expense  of  a  hospital  stay  and  missed  work,  along  with  an  unacceptable  rate  of  recurrence,  has  greatly  decreased  the  popularity  of  this  procedure.