How have minimally invasive procedures changed varicose vein treatment?

Treatment for varicose veins has traditionally required surgery and a hospital stay. Vein specialist Luis Navarro, MD, explains how different things are with minimally invasive treatments.

Transcript

00:00

In my office, we developed this procedure in which we pass a laser inside the vein. And with laser energy, we seal the vein.

00:07

It's called endovenous laser ablation. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:22

They have revolutionized the treatment of varicose veins. Varicose veins used to be treated by surgery, which always required

00:29

general anesthesia, staying in the hospital, a surgeon. And now we do everything minimally invasive

00:35

in the office, local anesthesia, 35 minutes. Go back to work.

00:41

And in my office we developed this procedure in which we pass a laser inside the vein. And with laser energy, we seal the vein.

00:49

It's called endovenous laser ablation. And basically, the-- all ligation

00:56

and stripping, the whole surgery has been completely abandoned-- and in countries that are advanced or in areas

01:04

that people are up to date.

01:10

Then all other branches are treated by phlebectomy, or they are treated by [INAUDIBLE] sclerotherapy

01:16

as well. [INAUDIBLE] because you don't only want to treat the big veins. You want to clean the whole leg and get a very cosmetic result.