What are varicose veins?
Varicose veins are swollen and enlarged veins and occur most often in the legs. They can develop when the valves in the veins are damaged. The damaged valves allow blood to flow back down the leg, causing the blood to pool in the leg. Typical symptoms of varicose veins include aching, cramping, and swelling in the legs.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure to treat varicose veins. RFA uses thermal energy to seal the diseased vein shut without the need for invasive surgery.
What is the RFA procedure like?
A small amount of numbing medication will be applied to the area of skin being treated. Using ultrasound to guide it, a thin catheter is inserted into the diseased vein through a small skin puncture. The catheter is threaded into the saphenous vein, a superficial vein in the leg and positioned near the groin. The catheter is energized by pulses of electricity, heating and contracting the walls of the vein until it shrinks and shuts down. This causes the vein to seal shut and blood flow is automatically rerouted through healthier adjacent veins. The vein is treated in 7 cm segments with a 20-second burst of energy. The catheter is slowly withdrawn, treating each segment until the length of the vein has been sealed. When the treatment is completed, the pressure will be applied to the incision site to stop any bleeding. The treated leg will be wrapped with gauze and an elastic wrap.
Unlike painful vein stripping surgery or laser ablation, the catheter delivers uniform, consistent heat to each segment. As a result, the procedure causes less bruising and allows rapid relief and recovery.
Call our office at 941-243-3991 to schedule a consultation with our physician, Dr. Woodrow Yeaney, to discuss if Radiofrequency Ablation is the right treatment for you.