The VenaCure EVLT™ procedure, for the elimination of varicose veins, is a minimally invasive, office-based treatment alternative to radio-frequency ablation or surgical stripping of the great saphenous vein. Unlike the VNUS Closure™ procedure, VenaCure EVLT utilizes a small laser fiber to close the vein. The fiber is inserted into the damaged vein and a laser light is emitted. In approximately three minutes, as the fiber is withdrawn from the vein, the tissue reacts with the light energy which heats and seals the vein closed. The area where the physician is working is numbed using a local anesthetic – no general anesthesia is required. Some patients may experience temporary tenderness and minor swelling, both of which are easily treated with over-the-counter, non-aspirin pain relievers. These side effects typically subside within five days. Immediately following the treatment, patients are ambulatory and ready to resume normal activities, but they should wear compression garments as prescribed by their physician. Endovenous laser treatment is typically the preferred method of treatment for very tortuous veins, difficult anatomies, or other types of veins that require more flexibility by the treating physician. Potential side effects of endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins are rare, but include temporary bruising, swelling and numbness of the treated area, thermal skin burns, numbness that comes and goes, and an allergic reaction to anesthesia. These same risks are also found with radio-frequency ablation. VenaCure EVLT is less likely to cause a life-threatening DVT or pulmonary embolism than is radio-frequency ablation, but both are considered very safe procedures.

Click to view larger