Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)

What Is EVLT?

EVLT is a revolutionary treatment for varicose veins because it doesn’t involve surgery. Instead of opening the area to tie and remove the inefficient vein, it is heated by a specific type of laser.

The heat from the laser closes the incompetent vein allowing the body to naturally absorb the treated vein. The blood then flows into all the healthier surrounding veins, for a more normal flowing venous system. This treatment reduces or eliminates painful symptoms caused by incompetent veins.

Vein Institute of Pinellas has a sophisticated treatment room specially constructed for non-invasive varicose vein treatment.

Which Veins Are Suitable for EVLT?

Patients who are suffering from vein disease symptoms including pain, cramps, heaviness, swelling, skin discoloration, restless legs, and leg heaviness are good candidates for EVLT. However, you still have to undergo a comprehensive examination by vein experts of Vein Institute of Pinellas.

What Is Involved in EVLT?

An ultrasound scan will be requested to identify the exact location of the incompetent vein. You will be asked to lie down and your leg will be cleaned and covered in sterile drapes.

Endovenous means inside the vein, so the next is to get inside the patient’s vein. This entire treatment is done under the guidance of ultrasound. A small amount of local anesthetic is injected into the skin over the vein being treated and a needle is inserted into the numbed area and into the vein. A wire is passed through the needle and up the vein. The needle is removed and a catheter (thin plastic tubing) is passed over the wire, up the vein and the wire removed. A very thin laser fiber is inserted into the catheter until its tip is at the highest point of the vein to be treated. A small amount of fluid is delivered around the vein to isolate and protect the nerve and tissue from the heat of the laser light. The laser machine is then turned on and the laser fiber and catheter is slowly pulled back and out of the vein as the heat treats the vein. After the treatment, the patient’s leg is cleaned and a compression wrap in put around the leg over the treated vein. The patient is asked to walk and stay active for the day. The patient may return to work or resume most of their normal daily activities.

For EVLT to be successful, it has be performed with extreme precision—a skill that is common in Vein Institute of Pinellas.

Are Your Veins Suitable for EVLT?

Almost all varicose vein sufferers are candidates to undergo EVLT. The Vein Institute of Pinellas has everything to offer on the market to help you understand your options and walk you through what treatments are best for you.

What happens after Endovenous Laser Treatment? How Do You Recover?

You may go home after the treatment. Right after your procedure, you will be asked to walk around for about 10-15 mins. Then again, you will need to take a 10-15 min walk every hour, every hour on the day of the procedure. Your leg will be in a compression wrap that is worn at all times for 3 days. After 3 days, you will be asked to take off the compression warp and wear a 20-30mmHg compression stocking, during the day (it can come off at night while sleeping) for the following 4 days.

As a healing response, the treated vein is going to swell, causing discomfort along the course of the vein. If the patient can take Ibuprofen, you will be asked to take this every 6 hours for 7 days to minimize the discomfort.

Are All Vein Lasers the Same?

Most types of lasers used for Endovenous Laser Treatment are virtually identical. Although some types have been reported to be less painful than others. However, the degree of pain for all types of EVLT lasers is particularly minimal.

The vein specialists at Vein Institute of Pinellas can discuss EVLT with you in detail to put you at ease, which is also crucial in the success of the procedure.

Any question that you have regarding EVLT can be answered clearly and comprehensively.

Will You Need Further Treatment?

Symptoms are usually relived without further treatment. Varicose veins normally become less noticeable after EVLT. In rare cases, they completely disappear. If you wish to improve the appearance of your veins, this may require another session.

Varicosities that require further treatment are either dealt using foam sclerotherapy or avulsion. You may undergo any of these treatments during the EVLT or 4 to 6 weeks after it. This will be evaluated thoroughly by one of the vein experts at Vein Institute of Pinellas.

Avulsion is carried out after the area around the vein has been injected with local anesthetic. Small incisions will be made over the affected vein and it will be slowly removed using a crochet hook. The incisions don’t require stitches and they heal quickly with very minimal scarring.

The most common method used to deal with residual varicose veins after Endovenous Vein Laser Therapy. This highly-effective, minimally-invasive technique involves injecting a substance into the abnormal vein to close it. Blood is then rerouted to a normal vein and the abnormal vein simply dissolves over time.

Are there EVLT Complications?

Serious complications post EVLT are extremely rare, especially if you received the treatment from Vein Institute of Pinellas. This is because we meticulously review each case in order to determine the best treatment and to help the patient experience the least post-EVLT discomforts.

Thrombophlebitis
During EVLT, the incompetent vein is heated and the normal response of the tissues to the heat is inflammation. This can cause the incompetent branches off the treated vein to harden as well, causing the vein to become lumpy and the skin above the vein to appear red. These clots are not dangerous and will naturally be absorbed by the body and go away over time.

Nerve Damage
Nerves near the treated vein may also sustain damage from the heat of the laser. You might experience numbness on small areas after the procedure, but this usually goes away after several weeks.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

This is the formation of the blood clot in a vein in the deeper tissues of the legs. It is a common complication following any surgery but the risk of DVT post-EVLT is very minimal.

Is EVLT Right For Me?

Patients with varicosities are often confused as to which treatment to choose. Due to varying options, from surgical to non-surgical, this is not surprising.

It will primary depend on your case and general health condition. A vascular specialist from Vein Institute of Pinellas will review your medical history, varicose problem, and current lifestyle to weigh the benefits and drawbacks.

While most varicose veins do not require medical attention, they can be unpleasant to the eyes. Whether it is cosmetic, medical or both, it is important to seek vascular treatment from a facility that has a proven track record, such as the Vein Institute of Pinellas.