Dear Ultrasound Insider,
Varicose veins affect one in five adults in the U.S., and for many patients the problem is more than cosmetic. Some varicose veins are highly symptomatic, typically causing pain at rest and affecting sleep.
Ultrasound-guided endovenous laser treatment is an effective and patient-friendly solution, according to researchers from Cornell University. In a two-year follow-up of 499 limbs treated with diode laser energy for saphenous vein reflux, the study team confirmed a recurrence rate of just 7%, compared with a 10% to 25% recurrence rate with conventional surgical stripping.
And instead of the general anesthesia required for surgery, the laser treatment can be done with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, according to the Cornell team. Dr. Robert Min, director of Cornell Vascular and vice chairman of radiology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, said that patients are able to walk immediately after the procedure, with most returning to work within a few days.
Laser treatment leaves only a single scar -- a small puncture wound at the venous port -- while the scarring that results from surgery can be extensive. About 50 centers in the U.S. are currently offering the procedure, with many more on the way.
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