NICE Advice on Long Saphenous Varicose Veins

Long Saphenous Veins

‘Long saphenous vein’ insufficiency is the most common underlying cause of varicose veins, a condition which NICE says affects 20–30% of adults.

The ‘long saphenous vein’ runs from the foot to the groin.

When this vein becomes inefficient, varicose veins can occur. These are veins where blood is not efficiently pumped the right way, so instead it begins to ‘pool’. The extra blood puts strain on the vein, so it loses elasticity and starts to expand or ‘bulge’, therefore giving rise to the visible problem of varicose veins.

Varicose veins are not just aesthetic, other symptoms include pain, tiredness and even ulceration.

NICE recommend EVLA (Endovenous Laser Ablation) treatment as a good treatment option for varicose veins. The public guidelines say:

“Endovenous laser treatment is a method of closing off the long saphenous vein.

“The doctor puts a narrow tube called a catheter into the vein. Ultrasound images are used to make sure it’s in the right place. A tiny laser device is then placed through the catheter and is passed up into position at the top of the vein. Local anaesthetic is injected into the area, and the doctor then pulls the laser device slowly along the vein while watching the laser tip with ultrasound pictures.

“The laser is gradually pulled back until it reaches the place where it was first put in. The laser fires short bursts of energy as it moves along the vein, and this heats the vein and makes it seal up.”

For more information see www.nice.org.uk.

UK Varicose Vein Treatments

In the UK, EVLA is viewed as the gold-standards solution for varicose veins. EVLA stands for Endovenous Laser Ablation and the procedure uses laser to heat and damage difficult varicose veins so that they are destroyed.

Due to stringent NHS criteria for treating varicose veins and a tendency to offer traditional vein stripping rather than laser treatment, EVLA is still more generally available for private patients.

At clinics such as Cosmedics’ London Vein Treatment Centre, EVLA is carried out on a day case basis and uses local anaesthetic. Recovery is very quick and patients are able to walk unaided to return home. There is no need for an overnight stay and patients can return to normal activities much faster.

Varicose Vein Treatment

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer private varicose vein treatment including EVLA (endovenous laser ablation) laser varicose vein removal with a vascular surgeon with prices starting at £1,650 per leg (1 vein).

They also offer foam sclerotherapy and micro surgery in order to provide a tailor-made service with the most appropriate treatment for each individual.

Thread veins can be treated with sclerotherapy injections, micro cautery laser or Nd:Yag laser.

For more information or to book a consultation, please complete the form on this web page or call 020 7386 0464.