Treating Varicose vein without surgery
With New Radio Frequency Ablation (Multipolar RFA)
Comfortable and sedentary life-style, modern fashion, special postures adopted while performing professional duties has contributed to increased incidence of a set of diseases unheard of in the past. Varicose vein disease is one of them and is a direct result of sedentary life-style.
According to one estimate, 15 to 20 per cent of the population in India
What is varicose vein and symptoms?
The leg vein normally contains multiple valves, which helps the blood flow in direction of the heart. When these valves are damaged, blood starts pooling in the legs causing swelling of the legs, aching pain, fatigue, skin discolouration, itching, varicosities and if not treated it may develops non-healing ulcersin leg. Ultimately, the person is forced to lead a disabled life.
The important factors are obesity, lack of exercise, abnormal pressure on veins during pregnancy, abnormal life-style, prolonged standing and prolonged sitting with legs down. Due to advanced age, overweight and lack of exercise veins of legs become very weak and, therefore, develop into varicose veins.
Today a lot of occupations and professions have sprung up where a person is required to either constantly stand up for a long time or made to sit with legs hanging down for a considerable time. Computer professionals, receptionists, security guards, traffic policemen, salesmen working at counters in shops and departmental stores and persons doing desk jobs day in and day out are the worst sufferers of varicose veins.
Why women are more susceptible to varicose veins?
Among females, due to some hormones, the walls of veins become enlarged and dilated. Besides, during pregnancy because of a lot of pressure on leg veins, these become weak and varicose. Fashion is playing havoc among women. High-heeled sandals and tight belts and panties are significant contributors to the development of varicose veins, as these items obstruct the normal flow of blood in the veins.
How long does the RFA procedure take?
The average time for the procedure is about 45 – 60 minutes. One can expect to be at the hospital for about two hour.
Is RFA painful?
There is some mild pain during the procedure. However, prior to the procedure, the doctor will inject some local anesthetic to numb the area.
When can I return to normal activities?
It is highly recommended that you resume your activities the next day. Except for strenuous exercise or heavy lifting, most other activities can be resumed the next day. Sporting activities can usually be resumed in of 5-7 days.
Diagnosis of varicose veins
This is done by general examination and ultrasound Doppler study that can show the exact site of disease in the form of damaged valves & dilatation of veins.
Till now VARIOUS TREATMENT OPTIONS available for varicose veins were available like
A. Elevating the legs while lying down or sitting, bending legs occasionally when standing for a long period of time.
B. Compression Stockings.
C. Sclerotherapy for short segment disease.
D. Vein Stripping Surgery is a major surgery where the recurrence rate is too high, cause ugly scar in legs and 2-3 weeks needed for recovery.
E. Laser ablation where the recurrence and other complication are higher as compare to RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION.
Radio-frequency ablation (RFA)
RFA is the latest and most effective, patient friendly and non-surgical treatment for varicose vein using Multipolar RFA machine. Under color Doppler ultrasound vision, a radio frequency catheter is inserted into the abnormal vein and the vessel treated with radio-energy, resulting is closure of the involved vein.
The interventional radiologist (interventional radiologists are uniquely skilled in using the vascular system to deliver targeted treatments throughout the body without surgery) accesses the abnormal saphenous vein just above or below the knee percutaneously through a small cannula in abnormal vein. Ablation uses a thin, flexible tube called a catheter with tiny electrodes at the tip of the catheter, which heat the walls of the varicose vein, and collapses the thick veins.
Benefits of Treatment with RFA
- RFA procedure needs no general anesthesia.
- No scars or stitches – because the procedure does not require a surgical incision.
- Done as an outpatient / day care / one day procedure.
- No blood loss or risk of blood transfusion.
- Makes faster recovery as compare to traditional treatment.
- It is cheaper than traditional surgery.
- The recurrence rate is very low as compared to surgery.
- More accurate and safe because done under guidance by trained Interventional Radiologist.
- RFA performed in cath suite (interventional radiology procedures room) by interventional radiologist.
Some individuals may have mild bruising or swelling. This disappears in 10-14 days.
For more in-depth information contact :
Dr. Pradeep Muley M.D.
Head & Senior Consultant Interventional Radiologist
Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, India
Fellow, Neurointerventional Radiology, John’s Hopkins Medical Institutions, USA
Visiting Associate, Neurointerventional Radiology , Iowa University, USA
Fellow Interventional Radiology, Singapore General Hospital , Singapore
Lecturer Vascular & Interventional Radiology, KEM Hospital
Neuroradiology, AIIMS, New Delhi
Mobile 098104 92778 or E-mail at muleypradeep@hotmail.com
