A new technique is being reported for the treatment of Varicose Veins (Daily Mail, 19th October 2010) called Steam Vein Sclerosis (SVS).
This technique follows the same principles of Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of varicose veins - but claims to be quicker.
It is well understood that heating veins destroys them permanently - and with Laser and Radiofrequency Ablations this heat energy can be measure precisely - a measurement called the LEED (Linear Endovenous Energy Density).
The potential problem with the steam is that it would appear difficult, if not impossible, to measure this energy given to the vein wall.
This might the reason that the report says that only 13 of the 20 veins remained closed after 1 year - very poor results compared to The Whiteley Protocol (which uses EVLA or RFA depending on vein anatomy) which has shown closure rates of over 99% at 5 years.
It will be interesting to see if research can improve on these results.
Hi Mark ,
ReplyDeleteTheresults at Rotterdam's Ersamus pilot study were not as good as they should have benn because they used only 1 pulse odf steam per cm of treated vein in half the patients , whereas 2 or 3 are recommanded.
We now have the results of the French multicenter study : on more than 50 patients , 95 % of treated veins are fully obliterated .
You are welcomed in Montpellier to see the method in use !
Best regards
René
R.Milleret ,rmilleret001@yahoo.fr
Thank you - I will e-mail you and try to arrange a visit ASAP.
ReplyDeleteI would also be grateful for any information you have about the above multicentre study - was the 95% obliteration at 1 year or less?
Mark