What is Endovenous Laser Ablation?

Endovenous laser ablation was first developed and approved in 2003 as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional varicose vein surgeries, such as vein ligation, venous bypass surgery, and vein stripping. Varicose vein surgeries involve hospitalization, multiple excisions, and an extended recovery period of one to two weeks. Furthermore, surgeries also carry a relatively high risk of infections and deep vein thrombosis, i.e., blood clots in leg veins.

Endovenous laser ablation is performed via one small incision on the skin’s surface. There’s no need for general anesthesia because most patients only need local anesthesia with mild sedation. The procedure concludes within an hour, following which patients can immediately resume their daily activities and work. As such, there’s no downtime either, and the risk of complications is negligible. Furthermore, EVLT also minimizes the risk of vein disease recurrence, making it superior to vascular surgery on all fronts.

During the EVLT procedure, you’ll have to lie down on an operating table while the medical team cleanses your targeted leg. You should ideally appear for the procedure completely hydrated, and you should avoid caffeine on the day of the procedure. The vein doctor will numb a small area on your skin and insert a hollow catheter with a laser fiber.

The hollow needle hooked to the laser fiber is driven into the diseased saphenous vein. The vein doctor also administers tumescent anesthesia to protect the surrounding tissues from laser damage. Finally, the laser fiber is activated to generate laser energy, which destroys the diseased saphenous vein. The accumulated blood reroutes into healthier leg veins, restoring optimal blood circulation to the heart.