Towards the end of last year it was announced that doctors in California were trying a new vein treatment procedure called Light Assisted Stab Phlebectomy (LASP) which involves the use of crochet hooks in treating the veins. After the initial flurry of announcements, there wasn't a lot of news on this front and attention turned towards the VNUS Closure Fast method which is currently the most popular method of treating varicose veins. However, we recently mentioned that Los Angeles doctors were still doing the crochet hook treatment and headlines indicate that the practice is beginning to gain some nationwide attention.
"LASP, involves doctors starting off by cutting a small incision where the vein is. Next, the doctors places a light source in the vein to help illuminate the path. Finally, doctors use a tiny crochet and small clamps to remove the vein from incisions so small they don't need a single stitch."
The procedure doesn't leave much of a scar which is preferable to some of the older treatments for varicose veins. Only time will tell whether this method is really going to take off across the nation or not but it's certainly something that's being widely done in Los Angeles by the doctors who pioneered the method.
Question of the Day: What concerns would you have about LASP that you would ask a doctor before considering the procedure?
