Endovenous Laser Treatment

Endovenous laser treatment, also referred to as EVLT, is the primary method of closing the abnormal, refluxing superficial veins in the treatment of venous insufficiency.

EVLT belongs to a group of venous treatments called Endovenous Thermal Ablation. Basically, this refers to the use of heat to “ablate” (i.e., to close off) the inside of the vein. The heat—used to “cauterize’ or “ablate” the vein to close—is commonly generated by laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) or radiofrequency waves transmitted through a long catheter to its tip placed inside of the vein. Sometimes a mechanical and chemical closure is used. At Advanced Vein Care Center, we primarily use the laser-generated EVLT to treat venous insufficiency.

Chronic venous insufficiency is caused by the underlying abnormal veins that are usually significant in size, usually located from 1 cm to 3 cm under the skin in a non-obese patient. These are called the “saphenous veins,” and they are usually not visible to the eye and require an ultrasound imaging. Visualizing the vein with an ultrasound, the vein specialist performs the EVLT to “ablate” these veins, thereby closing the source of the abnormal veins that give rise to the visible varicose veins on the skin. In sum, EVLT shuts off the source of chronic venous insufficiency symptoms, the saphenous veins, and the varicose veins are removed by hand during phlebectomy (see Phlebectomy section).


EVLT: General Questions & Answers

The vein that is treated by EVLT remains closed for the rest of your life, and as time passes, it gets absorbed to a certain extent by the body. Sometimes, an ultrasound performed months or years later can see the vein remain closed as a “cord” without a lumen. Other times, the ultrasound cannot even locate the closed off veins.

The fact of the matter is that there are already “other veins” that are currently directing the blood flow back to the heart, because the refluxing veins are currently sending the venous blood back down the leg (when standing or sitting for long time). When the abnormal vein is shut off, these other veins will have an “easier time” carrying the blood out of the leg.

An important innovation regarding EVLT is that the procedure can be performed with the patient wide awake. It does not require general anesthesia. EVLT procedures only require local anesthesia, which is administered through a series of injections into the leg in the region where the laser will be inserted into the vein. The injections of a lidocaine-containing solution numb the skin surrounding the injection site. Prior to the procedure, you may also be prescribed an anesthetic cream to apply to your leg as a way of dulling skin sensitivity to minimize the discomfort associated with needle injections. For many patients, even this is not necessary. In summary, general anesthesia is a potentially risky undertaking for many patients and is completely unnecessary for an EVLT procedure. At Advanced Vein Care Center, we have performed over 10,000 EVLTs. We have never used anything more than local anesthesia to perform these procedures, even in the most anxious patients prone to panic attacks.

We do all our EVLT procedures in 90-minute sessions—30 minutes for preparation and 60 minutes for the procedure. We have learned from performing more than 10,000 procedures that one hour is the optimal time for completing the procedure itself. Beyond that, we find patients are more likely to experience back or hip pain, bladder incontinence, fatigue, etc. If you have very complex venous reflux anatomy where there are more than two or three veins that need to be treated, you may require two EVLT sessions.

For the same reason as above, we treat one leg at a time, one month apart. Treating both legs in the same setting takes too much time and discomfort during the procedure. There are tissue trauma, post procedural pain and discomfort that follow each EVLT procedure, such that treating both legs simultaneously can be overwhelming for most patients.

There can be mild to moderate pain associated with post-procedural inflammation. We use a low-frequency laser technology to minimize post-procedural pain. Usually most patients tolerate pain with anti-inflammatory analgesics such as Ibuprofen alone, or Ibuprofen with small amounts of opioid analgesic such as oxycodone or hydrocodone (active ingredients of Percocet and Vicodin). We seldom have patients who require re-fill of these pain medications.

Time off from work depends on two things: (a) Degree of physical activity required in your job that would be a stress on the newly treated leg; (b) Your desire to return to work and your ability to endure mild to moderate pain/discomfort during work. If your job consists of low-level physical activity (e.g., office work), and if you are motivated to return to work (e.g., self-employed), you can return to work the following day. Even if your job requires moderate degree of physical activity (e.g., nurse or hair stylist), if you are able to tolerate mild to moderate discomfort (equivalent discomfort to a moderate cold or flu), then you can also return in 1-2 days. If your job requires strenuous physical activity (e.g., construction work or mail-carrier) or if you are unable to tolerate mild or moderate discomfort well, then you should take off between 1-3 days plus the weekend and return to work the following Monday. If minimizing time-off from work is important to you, then you should let us know, and we will schedule your procedures accordingly to meet your needs.

The veins that we treat with EVLT will stay closed with a success rate of 95 to 98 %, long-term. If your leg pain and discomfort are caused by venous insufficiency, then EVLT will result in significant improvement in pain and discomfort in over 80% of patients. If your concern is that of leg swelling, the following is what we have observed. After EVLT, the pain and discomfort and the “pressure” associated with your swelling in the leg will improve in greater than 80% of the time. But the “disappearance” of swelling will depend on the nature of your swelling, such as the cause of your leg swelling above and beyond the refluxing veins (such as obesity, heart/liver/kidney conditions, etc.), the duration of your leg swelling, etc. In some patients, the appearance of swelling does not return to normal even though the pain and discomfort is alleviated.

The chance that the vein that was closed by EVLT will open again is less than 2-5% (1-2% at the Advanced Vein Care Center). However, the chance that other veins in the leg will develop venous insufficiency because of on-going risk factors (hereditary, obesity, standing long periods), is about 25%. Venous insufficiency is a life-long condition, and it needs to be monitored by the patient, so that when the symptoms of pain and varicose veins return, you should seek help from the vein specialist right away.


Benefits and Risks of the Procedure

The main benefit is the improvement of leg pain and discomfort. Sometimes the appearance of swelling improves, but this depends on the patient’s specific clinical factors. EVLT procedure should also decrease the future chance of thrombophlebitis/blood clots, bleeding, and worrisome venous stasis dermatitis and leg ulcers. EVLT should also decrease the likelihood of rapidly worsening and progressive appearance of varicose veins—as well as ugly spider veins—in the lower legs.

The most feared risk is also the most rare – formation of deep vein blood clots (“deep vein thrombosis” or “DVT”) and/or pulmonary embolism (“PE”–travel of blood clots to the lungs, potentially a life-threatening complication.)

How rare is DVT or PE after the EVLT procedure? Some of the early studies of EVLT reported the risk in a wide range, from one in 100 to one in 400. However, as the definition of DVT was clarified, and as the laser technology switched to a low-energy laser machine the incidence has become very, very low. Recent studies on low-energy laser therapy involving many patients (studies involving between 200 to over 1,100 patients) did not report any incidence of DVT or PE. We also use low-energy laser therapy, and our experience has been similar to that of the literature, very rare.

There are minor risks such as post-procedural leg pain, skin nerve irritation and damage, appearance of tiny red “blush” of spider veins, and other minor or statistically rare “risks” of the procedure, which will be explained during your office visit with Dr. Lee.


EVLT: Before, During, and After Questions & Answers

Before the Procedure: Preparation

Yes. A few weeks prior to the scheduled date, we will mail you a packet with specific information about all your appointments for EVLT, phlebectomy and post-EVLT ultrasound. If you do not receive them at least two weeks prior to the scheduled date, please call our office.

Yes.

  • During the day prior to this procedure, you should increase the amount of fluids you drink. Stay well-hydrated. Avoid any food, liquid or physical activity that might cause dehydration.
  • Avoid caffeine-containing products such as soft drinks, coffee, or tea.
  • On the day of your procedure have a normal breakfast and/or lunch, again avoiding caffeine products.
  • Take all your regular medications.
  • In the end, your EVLT procedure should not cause you to change your normal dietary activity significantly.
  • Remember to stay well-hydrated and avoid caffeine products.
  • ‘EMLA Cream’ stands for a medical term, “Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthetic”. Our prescription contains 2.5% Lidocaine and 2.5% Prilocaine.
  • The purpose of EMLA cream is to “dull” the skin to decrease discomfort during the procedure. While it is not expected to render the leg completely numb, it will make the skin slightly less sensitive to injections during the procedure. If for some reason you fail to apply EMLA cream prior to the procedure, do not worry. Many patients have undergone EVLT without EMLA Cream and have done fine. It is just an additional relief of discomfort during the procedure.
  • Two hours before your procedure, you should apply the prescribed EMLA cream to the leg designated to undergo procedure.
  • The area of the leg to be applied with the Cream should be where the abnormal veins are. Apply to the inner thigh from the groin down to the inside of knee and down to the inner aspect of the calf down to the ankle. If you are scheduled to undergo treatment of the back of the calf, apply there from the back of the knee to the back of the ankle as well.
  • You should only use up to about one tube of cream to the leg, not more.
  • After applying EMLA cream, cover the leg loosely with plastic wrap. Commonly used are Saran wraps. This will prevent your clothing from becoming stained and will aid in the absorption of the medication in the cream.
  • If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call us and we will guide you.

Yes. We will send a prescription for the appropriate antibiotic to your pharmacy. If you do not receive the prescription from your pharmacy, please call our office and let us know.

For EVLT, you do not have to stop your blood thinner before the procedure. EVLT can successfully close the vein despite the anticoagulation. However, if you also have Phlebectomy scheduled following EVLT, you have to have stopped your blood thinners for a number of days prior to your Phlebectomy (see the Phlebectomy section), otherwise your Phlebectomy will have to be cancelled and re-scheduled.

No. It is not necessary to stop aspirin before the EVLT procedure.

Yes, you must bring your compression stockings to the procedure. Wearing compression stockings immediately after the procedure is an essential after-care in order to optimize the clinical outcome from the procedure. Bring your compression stockings to all your appointments. If you have a problem obtaining them prior to the procedure, be sure to let us know beforehand.

Bring loose clothing to the procedure and remove all foot/toe jewelry because these steps make the task of undressing and dressing in the procedure room much easier. You do not have to bring an extra set of clothes, other than your underwear. Bring an extra pair of underwear because sometimes the sterile solutions used to prep the groin area can stain or wet the underwear.

No. Do NOT shave your leg within 72 hours of the procedure, as it increases the risk of post-procedure skin infection.

For your EVLT procedure, you should arrive at your scheduled appointment time; you do not need to check in any earlier.

No. You must have a friend or family member drive you to and from your appointment. While the EVLT procedure will not impair your ability to walk, the local anesthetics and wrapping of your leg make it best not to drive immediately after the procedure.


During the Procedure

Yes. We have two Restrooms for the patients you can use as soon as you arrive in our office, so you do not delay your appointment time.

We do not allow someone to stay in the room with the patient because our experience has been that, despite their best intention, their presence in the room distracts from the focus and the flow of the procedure. In special circumstances where their presence is absolutely required, we make an exception, but not commonly.

Yes, you may bring your phone or a similar device to listen to music. However, we have a wonderful in-room Wi-Fi on-demand music system and you will be able to choose your own music from either Pandora or our iTunes library.

You can bring your iPad, Kindle or even a book. During the EVLT procedure, our patients have been known to do all kinds of parallel activities, including using their iPad, internet shopping, reading an e-book, even catching up on their office e-mails, texting or tweeting. One patient even studied for her state licensure exam during our procedure. (She passed the exam three days later.)

A member of our clinical team will bring you into the procedure room. You will undress from the waist down except for underwear. Our ultrasound technologist will perform an ultrasound exam to map out the refluxing veins that need to be treated, with you standing or on the procedure bed as appropriate. Dr. Lee will then come in, ask questions to update and confirm clinical information as needed, and proceed with the procedure.

No. Intravenous sedation is completely unnecessary for this procedure. We have never had to stop the laser procedure because of anxiety in our office so far.

No, the laser does not hurt at all. The vein is completely anesthetized when the laser is performed. One part of the procedure that hurts is when initially we try to access the vein. This is similar to getting an IV placed, which is a relatively minor discomfort. The other part is when the vein is being “numbed” with local anesthetic injections. For most people, this, too, is relatively a minor discomfort. Otherwise, there is no other pain associated with the procedure.

Some patients have chronic pain in their back or hip due to arthritis. If this is the case, you need to let us know beforehand, so we can use adequate padding or positioning to minimize your discomfort. Most people can tolerate a one-hour procedure quite well, however.

We have treated many patients with Latex allergy. Simply let us know, and we will use Latex-free instruments, gloves, and supplies. Similarly for the surgical prep allergy and tape allergy. We have alternative means to take care of you while avoiding your allergens.


After Procedure Care

Wear compression stockings (CS) for the first 48 hours continuously (day and night). Then continue wearing CS during the day (take off at night when sleeping) for an additional three days.

No, chances are overwhelming that taking off the compression stockings will NOT “un-do” the closure of vein by the laser. Whatever the benefits maybe from wearing CS following the EVLT procedure, they are not worth the risk of “problems” if you develop them while wearing CS (see above).

Yes, you can elevate your leg; however, it is important to work your thigh and calf muscles by walking 5–10 minutes every half hour when awake. When you are not walking, you can keep your leg elevated to decrease swelling.

We recommend walking around at least 5–10 minutes every half hour during awake hours. Obviously, you can sleep your normal sleeping hours without having to wake up and walk at night. But during the day, you should walk as much as possible. Avoid sitting with your knee bent at less than a 90-degree angle. If you must sit, do so with your leg as straight as possible, perhaps elevated. Get up and walk as much as possible if you must sit. Avoid standing still.

Mild to moderate. Rarely, severe. Depends on the length, the location, and the number of veins that were treated. Greater pain results if the length of the vein is longer, if the number of treated veins is greater, and if the location of the vein is below the knee and lower in the leg. Lastly, it depends on the pain-tolerance level of the patient: greater if the patient has a history of being more “sensitive” and “anxious” to pain. Usually, the pain and discomfort gets worse in the first 3-4 days before it gets better.

Overall, the average pain and discomfort is similar to that of mild to moderate tissue inflammation on a body part. See above for how much time should I take off from work following EVLT?

For relatively healthy patients, Ibuprofen (600 mg every 6 hours) suffices to control pain. Extra strength Tylenol is an alternative to Ibuprofen IF you have an issue with kidney function, or if you are more than 65 years of age, or if you have symptoms of stomach ulcer or reflux (GERD). If you have a liver condition, we do not recommend Tylenol. Please consult with us. You will be asked if you are a candidate for post-procedural opioid pain pills in addition to Ibuprofen. They include oxycodone (Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine (Tylenol #3), or tramadol (Ultram), and one of these will be prescribed if appropriate.

You should avoid letting water soak the treated area of the leg close to the needle puncture for at least 48 hours. These wounds are expected to heal over enough to be “water-resistant” within 48 hours. If you are desperate to take a shower before that time, you may place a plastic bag over the treated area, then take a shower letting water touch the leg sparingly. If the white gauze-bandage is wet at all, you should remove it and replace it with another dry gauze and tape over the treated area. After 48 hours, you can take a shower, then leave the white gauze/tape off the treated area and leave only the steri-strips directly on the wounds. If there is any residual oozing clear or pinkish-red fluid coming from the needle puncture wounds, apply more sterile dry gauze and tape over the site.

Prolonged submersion in clean bath water or a jacuzzi should be avoided for at least one to two weeks.

Prolonged submersion in a swimming pool (as in swimming laps or aquatic aerobics) should be avoided for one to two weeks.

  • Walking leisurely – Immediately with compression stockings on
  • Walking on a treadmill at a low to intermediate speed – Immediately with compression stockings on
  • “Spinning” on a stationary bike – Immediately with compression stockings on
  • Intermediate to high-speed treadmill or running on the road – One week with compression stockings on
  • Low-intensity weight lifting – Immediately with compression stockings on
  • Moderate to High-intensity weight lifting not involving the treated leg directly – One week with compression stockings on
  • Moderate to High-intensity weight lifting which involves the treated leg directly – Two weeks with compression stockings on

“Black-and-blue” bruises are normally expected after the EVLT treatments. One may have varying degrees of bruises depending on the size and the length of the vein treated, its location, amount of laser energy used, post-procedural anti-inflammatory pain medications, and other specific factors. It may take days to weeks before the bruises go away.

“Redness” of the skin in addition to the bruising is also a normal observation following the EVLT treatment, and it may get worse in the first 3-4 days before it begin to resolve. Rapidly spreading redness beyond the area of treatment may be a concern, and if present, you should call our office.

No, it is statistically more likely from a normal course of post-procedural inflammatory response. Deep vein blood clot (DVT) is extremely rare (less than one in 500 with our current laser machine).

For a month following the EVLT procedure, we recommend that you avoid long-distance travel with more than an hour transit time, whether in a car or on an airplane. If traveling longer distances in a car, we recommend that you stop every hour and walk around for 5 to 10 minutes. If you have to travel in an airplane for much longer than an hour within the month, you should consult with us, so we can give you a prescription for a blood-thinning medication (or a low-dose aspirin instead if appropriate) as a prophylaxis against blood-clot formation during your air travel. While traveling, you should wear compression stockings, avoid tight spaces where your knees and hips will be flexed at acute angles, and get up and walk around as much as possible.

We recommend one month following the procedure as our experience has served our patients well. But there is little data to support any particular duration.

No, if it is just oozing of blood slowly, then apply sterile dry gauze to the area with some pressure and it is expected to stop.


Contact Us

For more information about endovenous laser treatment feel free to get in touch with our informed office staff. Our Springfield, MA office can be reached by phone at 413.732.4242 or email us.