Endovenous Ablation is a procedure in which the doctor uses heat to damage and cease varicose veins. Varicose veins are dilated, bulging, tortuous, and superficial veins caused by incompetent venous valves. They lose their competency and constantly affect the legs and feet. In varicose veins, the valves do not work correctly, allowing blood to pool in the vein, increasing venous pressure and, like hoods of congestion, vein bulge, and twist. Superficial veins have less muscle support.
The procedure of endovenous ablation
In the endovenous ablation procedure, the doctor puts a needle and wire into the vein. A narrow tube is present over the wire and moved into the vein. The doctor will use this thin tube and other tools to send energy into the vein. The energy named ‘radio frequency energy’ comes from a laser or radio wave that damages the tissue inside the vein.
The doctor gives medicine to the patient to make them feel relaxed. During this procedure, the patient wears glasses to protect his eyes. This procedure takes less than one hour. The doctor placed the bandage on the affected part. After completing the procedure, one may have a lesion on the treated vein and can go home on the same day to carry on his daily activities. You must avoid intense exercises after this procedure and need to have on compression stockings for one week or more.
Preparing for the procedure
- Do not take aspirin-like products
- Stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Wear comfortable clothes
- Do not wear jewelry during this procedure
- Wear flat shoes
- Use Tylenol only (if medications required)
- Do not use anesthesia
- Do not use pain relievers medications
Things to know before an ablation procedure
Following things you need to know before an ablation procedure:
- Pay attention to risk factors: When a patient decides to have an ablation, he must know about the following risk factors that can be controlled; Excess weight can also increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Drinking alcohol can also increase risk factors. Another risk factor for afib is obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow normal breathing.
- Avoid certain kinds of medication: One’s doctor can advise avoiding medication that increases the risk of bleeding, such as aspirin, before an ablation procedure.
- Proper diet and lifestyle changes: Take a proper healthy diet before an ablation, such as consuming vitamin K and avoiding alcohol.
- Reduce risk for bleeding: People take blood thinner medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, etc., to reduce bleeding risk.
- Slight movement regularly: If an individual wants to reduce the risk of blood clots, they must take short walks after an ablation.
Risks and potential complications of the procedure
This is a very safe procedure. However, the following are some risks associated with the ablation procedure:
- Lesion on the site of ablation
- Pain on the site of ablation
- Formation of blood clots on the treated leg
- Irritation on the nerves
Side effects of endovenous ablation
This is a very safe procedure but has some side effects and risks like any other treatment, such as:
- Infection
- Soreness and inflammation
- Bruising
- Blood clots
- Swellings
- Nerve damage
- Bleeding
- Redness of the vein
- Changes in skin color
- Burns
Benefits of endovenous ablation surgery
Following are the advantages of endovenous laser ablation:
- Medically proven relief from a varicose vein: Endovenous laser ablation is the safest and most effective procedure to remove spider or varicose veins. After endovenous laser surgery, a treated vein’s recurrence was lower.
- Quick and easy treatment: This is a very simple, easy, and immediate treatment. No anesthesia will be used before this treatment.
- No Downtime: The patients can return to the house on the same day of surgery and do their daily activities after receiving endovenous laser ablation.
- Effectiveness: Doctors use the endovenous laser ablation technique to operate with less damage to the body than open surgery. This procedure is 98% effective and used to treat painful varicose veins.
- Recovery time: Endovenous laser ablation’s recovery time is shorter and pain-free, like 2-3 weeks.
Is endovenous ablation painful? This is a very simple and pain-free procedure to remove bulging veins.
Sleep after endovenous laser ablation
After this surgery, the veins are still recovering, and the patient cannot put pressure on the legs during sleep. He is advised to place a pillow under his legs, just below the new joints.
Restrictions after vein ablation
After a radiofrequency or laser endovenous ablation procedure, the patient must avoid exercise for one week, such as running, jogging, cycling, crunches, etc.
When can one walk after surgery to prevent blood clots?
Resting in bed or sitting in a chair can help prevent blood clots. Simple exercises can also help improve blood circulation, such as moving feet in a circle, up and down.
Equipment needed for endovenous ablation
The doctor uses the following equipment to treat endovenous ablation:
- An ultrasound machine: It consists of a video monitor, computer console, and transducer. The transducer is a small device resembling a microphone and sends high-frequency and inaudible sound waves to the body.
- A catheter: It is a thin plastic tube, 1/8 inch in diameter, and smaller than a pencil lead.
- Radiofrequency electrodes and laser fibers: These are long, thin wires that carry energy into the body from power generators.
Uses
The doctor uses this procedure for cosmetic purposes and to prevent the following symptoms:
- Achiness in the skin
- Throbbing pain in legs
- Severe swelling
- Sores or ulcers in the body
- Discoloration of skin like bluish or red
- Irritation in skin
- Swelling and pain in the veins
Complications during endovenous ablation
The difficulties are as follows:
- Scars and blemishes in the skin
- Bleeding
- Blood clotting in the lungs and legs
- Nerves and arteries become damaged
- Burning of the skin
- Cracking and breaking of nerves
- Formation of a lump around the wound
Limitations of endovenous ablation
Doctors use ablation to treat superficial veins because the catheter does not pass through a vessel. The saphenous vein extends from the groin and inside the thigh and ankle. It treats abnormal target veins, such as sclerotherapy and phlebotomy.
References:
- https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=abk7082#:~:text=Endovenous%20ablation%20is%20a%20procedure,and%20wire%20into%20the%20vein
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/16965-venous-disease-endovenous-thermal-ablation
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30465420/
- https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/varicoseabl?google=amp
- https://www.advancedveincenter.com/what-are-the-advantages-of-endovenous-laser-ablation/amp/
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/endovenous-laser-varicose-vein-surgery
