Varicose vein study shows radiofrequency ablation causes less post-operative pain

A study to compare two increasingly popular treatments for varicose veins has found that patients who received radiofrequency ablation reported less post-procedural pain than those treated with endovenous laser ablation.

However, both groups reported the same clinical and quality of life improvements at six weeks, according to UK research published in the June issue of the British Journal of Surgery.

“Varicose veins are a very common condition that occurs when the blood flow to the legs is interrupted and collects in the veins” explains principal investigator Professor Alun Davies from Imperial College, London. “It’s estimated that as many as 30 per cent of adults in the UK will suffer from the condition at some point in their lives.”

Vascular surgery experts from the College randomised 131 patients into two groups, with 64 receiving endovenous laser ablation 980nm (EVLA) and 67 receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using VNUS® ClosureFAST™.

All the procedures were carried out under general anaesthetic between July 2008 and July 2009 by one of three surgeons experienced in both techniques. The 89 female and 42 male patients were then asked to fill in diary cards recording pain levels, based on a visual analogue scale from zero to 100, and note any analgesia use.

The patients had an average age of 49 and there were no statistically significant differences in other factors such as their body mass index and the pattern of the disease between the two surgical groups.

“Radiofrequency and endovenous ablation are minimally invasive techniques and their development has revolutionised the treatment of varicose veins” says Professor Davies. “Perceived advantages over traditional surgery include fewer complications, minimal post procedural pain and faster recovery times.

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FDA Approves First Sclerosant to Treat Small Varicose Veins in 60 Years

Washington – Merz Aesthetics  makes its debut at the prestigious American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) annual meeting with the announcement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of Asclera™ (polidocanol) Injection, a sclerotherapy treatment for uncompplicated spider and reticular veins.

“Spider and reticular veins are a common, often embarrassing condition that can be treated safely and effectively,” said Robert A. Weiss, M.D., director of the Maryland Laser, Skin, and Vein Institute and Associate Professor of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. “Asclera™ is a minimally-invasive option for patients who are unhappy with the appearance of their legs.”

The FDA approved Asclera™ (polidocanol) Injection on March 30, 2010 to sclerose uncomplicated spider veins (varicose veins less than or equal to 1 mm in diameter) and uncomplicated reticular veins (varicose veins 1 to 3 mm in diameter) in the lower extremity, making it the first sclerosant to be approved in over 60 years.  Once injected, Asclera™ acts by damaging the cell lining of blood vessels, causing them to close and eventually be replaced by other types of tissue. Asclera™ is safe and effective when used as directed. Commonly observed local adverse events included injection site hematoma, irritation, and discoloration. Asclera™ has not been studied in varicose veins more than 3 mm in diameter.

“We are very excited about the approval of this treatment, expanding our aesthetics portfolio with products that really matter to patients,” said Dennis Condon, President of BioForm Medical, Inc., a Merz Aesthetics company. “Merz Aesthetics is committed to bringing forward true innovation to solve real problems that impact the lives of aesthetics users, and this takes us in the right direction.”

During the meeting, the company will also unveil the first phase of a unique national consumer survey of women’s experiences and perceptions of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. The results shed some light on the underlying motivations behind these women’s cosmetic procedure choices.