Varicose veins are permanent expansions of superficial veins, which are often lumpy, bulging or twisted in appearance. They are often caused by the imbalance of blood pressure in the superficial vein and the endurance of the vein’s walls. The most common cause of varicose veins and their enlargement is the damage of venous valves and inherent or acquired weakness of the vein walls.

Varicose veins are initially treated as a cosmetic problem. As a result of untreated disease, most often the area of sprain ankles appear swollen. Initially the swelling intensifies in the evening and tend to disappear after a night spent in a lying position.

EVLT (endovenous laser treatment) is an effective and safe method of ablation. The method involves closing ineffective venous trunks with thermal energy generated by a laser. The optical fiber of the laser device is inserted into the vein through a skin puncture. The procedure is conducted under local anesthesia and the patient can return home immediately after the procedure.

Before the EVLT procedure a duplex Doppler ultrasound of the lower limbs must be performed to qualify the patient. The indications for endovenous laser ablation include varicose veins in the legs, valvular incompetence in a superficial vein in the leg (great saphenous vein or small saphenous vein). The choice is also made based on the patient’s age, disease stage, and presence of coexisting diseases.

Before the procedure, blood tests must be performed: complete blood count, APTT and CRP levels, and the patient is required to wear compression stockings (class 1). The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so the patient can eat and drink even just before the procedure.

Upon disinfecting the limb with disinfectant solution and applying local anaesthetic, under ultrasound control, a small incision is made to the vein percutaneously, and a sterile single use radial fibre is inserted. The end of the fibre is put around the connection of the damaged superficial vein with the deep vein, where the reflux is. Then, through the skin incision a local anaesthetic solution is applied. Except for the pain relief, the solution is also supposed to protect the tissues surrounding the vein from laser thermal energy. Upon checking the position of the radial fibre, the closing of the vein will commence. The impulse work of the laser will allow to systematically pull out the radial fibre from the vein, to close it evenly. The position of the radial fibre is controlled during the entire procedure in the ultrasound. After the wire is removed from the vein, a sterile dressing is applied to the incision and a compression stocking will be put on the limb. Patient will be able to leave the operating table and after a short rest they will be able to leave the treatment room on their own.

Already on the next day the patient can come back to moderate physical activity (walks, climbing the stairs, work that does not require intense effort). They can return to exercise after 2-4 weeks. Follow up checks ups after the procedure are included in the price. The complications after this treatment happen rarely. Bruises can appear where the incisions were made.

Complications after the procedure are rare. Sometimes bruises may appear where the skin has been punctured.