The Veineo® procedure

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation
Chronic venous insufficiency, or venous reflux, refers to the disruption of normal blood flow from the veins back to the heart, resulting in pooling (stasis) and thus venous hypertension. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with “varicose veins” in common parlance, but this is somewhat misleading. Although varicose veins can lead to chronic venous insufficiency if left untreated, CVI can also develop idiopathically or in connection with various conditions, such as deep vein thrombosis (postphlebitic syndrome), pelvic tumours, or leg muscle weakness. Moreover, these issues can prove mutually exacerbative: for example, perforating vein insufficiency has been linked to post-treatment recurrence of superficial varicose veins, and some studies even suggest that venous reflux may be an independent risk factor for DVT.

Chronic venous insufficiency is nothing new: research on the leg veins dates as far back as 1550 BC, and CVI has an estimated point prevalence of around 20-25% in women and 10-15% in men over the age of 15. While patients often initially seek treatment for cosmetic reasons (telangiectasia, varicose veins, hyperpigmentation), the condition can cause a variety of potentially debilitating symptoms ranging from pain, oedema, and fatigue to ulceration and haemorrhage.

Minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins have generated considerable interest in recent years. Whereas injection sclerotherapy was the most widely available option until the early 2000s, practitioners now have a variety of alternatives at their disposal, ranging from foam sclerotherapy to laser ablation to microphlebectomies.

The Veineo® procedure uses the principle of radiofrequency thermocoagulation to treat symptoms of CVI safely and effectively. A thin, flexible catheter is inserted into the vein, and high-energy (4 MHz) radio waves are transmitted to the tip, which ablates the vein walls and seals the vein along its entire length. The procedure can be performed in a day-case or outpatient setting; it causes minimal discomfort and allows patients to resume their normal activities almost immediately

• Fast, minimally invasive outpatient procedure
• Offers rapid relief from symptoms
• No risk of hyperpigmentation
• No post-treatment wound care
• Return to regular activities quickly

• Flexible, unbreakable catheters allow easy manoeuvrability through tortuous veins
• Catheter markings offer visual cues for added convenience
• Multiple catheter sizes available for treating vessels of different diameters
• Both legs can be treated in a single session
• 3mm thermal radius prevents damage to surrounding tissue
• Can be used on saphenous veins as well as superficial collateral and perforating veins
• No risk of complications such as DVT, paraesthesia or ecchymosis