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Compare Alternatives
Laser treatment of varicose veins shows clear patient benefits over surgery and other alternative treatments. These benefits include:
- Up to 98% success rate with no scarring or hospitalization
- Lower risk of complications
- Fast recovery with strong patient satisfaction
These factors and others make EVLT® the fastest growing procedure for treatment of varicose veins and one which is expected to quickly become the predominant varicose vein treatment. But don’t take our word for it, hear what others are saying:
* Data derived from Leerink Swann & Co. Consultant Survey Summary, April 2005, Survey of 30 vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, and interventional cardiologists on current and expected treatment patterns of varicose veins
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What Market Analysts Are Saying
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* Data derived from Millenium Research Group, May 2004, US Markets for Varicose Vein Treatment Devices
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EVLT® |
Surgery
(Ligation & Stripping) |
Treatment Location
(Primary) |
Office |
Hospital or Surgicenter |
| Anesthesia |
Local |
General Anesthesia |
| Success Rate |
93-98%1,2 |
77-82%3,4 |
| Recovery |
|
|
- Return to normal activity
|
Patients resume normal activities within 1-2 days |
3.9 days5 |
|
12.4 days5 |
| Side Effects |
|
|
|
|
24%1 Bruising @ 1 week
(resolved in all cases at 1-month)
Other data not available |
64%5 @ 1 week |
|
|
50%5 @ 1 week |
|
|
28%5 @ 1 week |
|
|
14%5 @ 1 week |
| Scarring |
None |
At least 2 incisions
(at groin and knee) |
Patient Satisfaction
(would recommend to a friend) |
99.8%1 |
NA |
- Min, Khilnani, Zimmet. Endovenous Laser Treatment of Saphenous Vein Reflux: Long-Term Results. J Vasc Interv Radiol; 2003;14:991-996
- Navarro, Salat. Endolaser – a three year follow-up report: Implication on crossectomy and ligation and stripping. 16th Annual Congress American College of Phlebology, Nov 2002
- Sarin, Scurr, Smith Assessment of stripping the long saphenous vein in the treatment of primary varicose veins. Br J Surg 1992;79:889-893
- Dwerryhouse, Davies, Harradine, Earnshaw. Stripping the long saphenous vein reduces the rate of reoperation for recurrent varicose veins: five-year results of a randomized trial. J Vasc Surg 1999;29:589-592
- Lurie, F, et al. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (Closure procedure) versus ligation and stripping in a selected patient population (EVOLVeS Study), J Vasc Surg 2003; 38(2):207-14.
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EVLT® |
Radiofrequency (RF) |
| Primary Mechanism |
Laser |
Electricity |
Success Rate
(comparative studies) |
94-100%1,2,8,4 |
86-92%1,2,8,11 |
| Complications |
|
|
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) or Saphenous Thrombus Extension
|
0.3%4,5 |
2.1%4,6 |
|
|
None Reported7 |
17 cases7 |
| Side Effects |
|
|
|
|
Mild to Moderate (<35%)3,8,10
|
Mild to Moderate (<35%)8,9,10 |
|
|
Mild to Moderate (<25%)8,10 |
Mild to Moderate (<25%)8,9,10 |
|
|
0.08%3,8,10 |
11%9,11,12,13 |
| Post-Op Experience |
- Compression stockings prescribed
- Walking immediately encouraged
- Will feel a delayed tightness (or “pulling” sensation) 4-7 days after laser treatment which is normal and expected following a successful treatment
|
- Compression stockings prescribed
- Walking immediately encouraged
|
| # Procedures (2006)14
| 103,000 |
78,000 |
| Patient Satisfaction (would recommend to a friend)
| 99.8%3 |
98%15 |
- Black CM, et al Failure Rates of Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation Compared Endovenous Laser Ablation J Vasc Interv Radiol 2005;16(2
Suppl 2):S52
- Isaacs M, Gardner M, Comparison of Duplex Guided Sclerotherapy, Closure and EVLT in a Single Practice. 17th Annual Congress, American
College of Phlebology. Aug 2003
- Min, Khilnani, Zimmet. Endovenous Laser Treatment of Saphenous Vein Reflux: Long-Term Results. J Vasc Interv Radiol; 2003;14:991-996
- Mozes G, Gloviczki P, et al Extension of saphenous thrombus into the femoral vein: A potential complication of new endovenous ablation tech
niques J Vasc Surg 2005;41:130-5
- No DVT reported (MAUDE, see footnote 7); 0.3% represents non-occlusive thrombus extension
- Some DVT reported (MAUDE); 2.1% represents combination of DVT and non-occlusive thrombus extension
- FDA reported events on Manufacturer & User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database (up to September 2007) since product inception.
Up to date results available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMAUDE/search.cfm
- Puggioni A, Kalra M, Carmo M, Mozes G, Gloviczki P Endovenous Laser Therapy and Radiofrequency Ablation of the Great Saphenous Vein:
Analysis of Early Efficacy and Complications J Vasc Surg 2005;42:488-93
- Lurie, F, et al. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (Closure procedure) versus ligation and stripping in a
selected patient population (EVOLVeS Study), J Vasc Surg 2003; 38(2):207-14.
- Zimmet SE. Pain, Bruising and Short-Term Efficacy after Endovenous Treatment of the Greater Saphenous Vein: The Effect of Operative
Technique and Postoperative Care. 16th Annual Congress American College of Phlebology. Nov 2002
- Almeida JI, Raines J Radiofrequency Ablation and Laser Ablation in the Treatment of Varicose Veins. Ann Vasc Surg 2006; 20:547-552
- Rautio et al. Endovenous obliteration versus conventional stripping operation in the treatment of primary varicose veins: A randomized con
trolled trial with comparison of the costs. J Vasc Surg 2002;35:958-65
- Merchant RF, DePalma RG, Kabnick LS. Endovascular obliteration of saphenous reflux: a multicenter study. J Vasc Surg. 2002
Jun;35(6):1190-6
- Millenium Research Group, US Markets for Varicose Vein Treatment Devices 2006. GSV procedures only. Laser volume reflects all lasers.
- Weiss RA, et al. Controlled Radiofrequency Endovenous Occlusion Using a Unique Radiofrequency Catheter Under Duplex Guidance to Eliminate
Saphenous Varicose Vein Reflux: A 2-Year Follow-up, Dermatologic Surgery, Jan 2002; 28:1: 38-42
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Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for spider veins, but is only used for treating smaller varicose veins. It has a high rate of recurrence, and is generally not covered by health insurance.
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