EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment) is a procedure leading to occlusion of varicose veins. It involves putting a fibre optic into a saphenous vein through a catheter. Then the laser is turned on and slowly withdrawn from the vein.
Thanks to light tissue interaction mainly thermal effects occur, the tissue is heated and the walls of the vein shrink, because of alteration of endothelium and contraction of collagen.
There are two possibilities of performing the treatment: with pulsed and continuous-wave laser operation. Using the pulsed operation also the fibre is withdrawn step by step. A better choice is to use continuous-wave laser and to withdraw the fibre also continuously, what provides more homogenous illumination of the vein, less tissue damage outside the vein and better results.
About Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT)
Quick and minimally invasive, endovenous laser therapy is an effective alternative to traditional vein stripping. Endovenous laser ablation therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses catheters, lasers, and ultrasound to treat varicose veins. This procedure is performed most often on veins that are still relatively straight and untwisted.
Treatment Advantages and Benefits
Treatment benefits of EVLT include:
1. The Procedure Only Takes 1 Hour EVLT only takes about an hour, and most patients can resume normal activities immediately without being admitted to a hospital. The treatment is performed under local anesthetic, with or without oral sedation, right in our office.
2. Only 1 Small Incision Is Required 3. The procedure is minimally invasive, resulting in a minimal risk of infection, blood loss, noticeable scarring, or other significant side effects. This treatment leaves only a single small scar at the insertion site, roughly one-quarter inch or less. 4. Patients Can Resume Normal Activities Immediately After an EVLT procedure, providers typically recommend patients wear compression socks during the recovery process to aid circulation. This decreases the amount of bruising or swelling that may happen after the treatment. An ultrasound is usually performed the following week to ensure no clots have formed in the treated veins.
