Minimally-invasive treatment for varicose vein relapses

"Relapses", that is the renewed appearance of occasionally extremely distinctive varicose veins following a surgical procedure, are very unpleasant for the affected patients. They also present a challenge to the physician.

Frequently, these new varicose veins are seen to begin at the incision site in the inguinal area or in the hollow of the knee, and are consequently in direct contact with the internal venous system that is rich in blood.

Recurrent varicose veins are frequently not only especially large in diameter, but also have especially thin walls and, in addition to this, lie in a compact layer of scar tissue (resulting from the initial operation): In order to operate on these relapses without intensive bleeding developing through their injury, vascular surgeons must be extremely cautious.

During conventional surgery these cases are frequently associated with considerable problems and complications arise more often than in the initial operation. As a rule, affected patients are treated in hospital and must interrupt their physical and professional activities for a longer period of time in order to avoid secondary bleeding from the sites at which the veins have been severed, which results from an increase in the pressure.

At our institute, however, we have successfully developed a minimally invasive catheter technique which we utilise with a great deal of routine experience in these cases. Through the combination of specially-developed radiofrequency catheters and the "hot steam injection process" (steam vein sclerosis, SVS for short), we can even treat extremely large calibre recurrent varicose veins without an incision and without the risks associated with invasive vein surgery. Only through this combination of methods is it possible for us to reliably and safely perform such complicated procedures on an out-patient basis by means of a catheter puncture.

Since there are no sutures following an excision - as seen in the case of open interventions - which might loosen in the event of an increase in pressure (abdominal press, coughing, bodily effort), no secondary bleeding can develop and patients may become physically active again almost immediately.

Because we successfully employ the combination of radiofrequency cathether and SVS on a regular basis, many of these complicated cases are transferred to us from other vascular surgeons in Germany, Austria, Italy and Great Britain.