The idea of a laser in my leg sounds a little scary. Is there a risk of getting burned during the procedure?
ELA can cause a burn injury but this rare. The technique used requires tumescent anesthesia infiltrated around the treated vein. This, in effect,,acts as a buffer between the laser and skin to prevent burning. Various wavelength lasers are used as well as radiofrequency.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There is a small risk of getting a burn, however using tumescent anesthesia this risk is reduced greatly. Tumescent anesthesia is essentially a mixture of salt water and numbing medicine that surrounds the entire length of the vein. This mixture will absorb the stray heat of the laser and protect the surrounding soft tissues.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The complication rate for endovenous laser ablation is extremely low. While there have been case reports of skin burns in the past, it is almost unheard of today.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
ELT is a very safe procedure. All treatments are completed under ultrasound guidance so there is very little risk of a burn from the laser. Another safety measure is using what is called tumescent anesthesia, which puts a "buffer" zone around the veins that protects the normal tissue from any heat. In my practice I have never seen any tissue injury from the laser. The procedure is nearly painless and very effective.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Generally a diode laser is used at various wavelengths. I use the 810
wavelength, however all the available devices appear to work quite
well. The laser is only fired inside the vein within the body, and the
energy is very localized, so the risk of a burn is really negligible.
After hundreds and hundreds of cases in our experience, we have never
had any issues with burns.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
The risk of laser-induced burns is very small. It can occur in the treatment of veins that are too close to the skin surface if no precautions are made.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
Various wavelength lasers are used to generate heat within the vein wall and thereby damage the walls. There is a very slight risk of burns, but done properly with proper patient selection the risk approaches zero.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There are several commercially available, FDA approved lasers for
endovenous ablation. They have wavelengths ranging from 800 to 950 nm.
There is a risk of skin burn, but that risk is less than 0.5%.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There are number of laser companies out there available for use to seal the
leaking veins in the leg. The procedure is very safe and almost painless.
We perform these procedures in an outpatient setting under local anesthesia
with a few relaxing pills to take the edge off. The catheter is about the
diameter of a pencil lead from a mechanical pencil. It is inserted through
a very small catheter in the calf just below the knee usually and painlessly
advanced under ultrasound guidance to the level of the groin crease.
Medicine is carefully infused around the vein and catheter to protect the
patient from the heat of the laser that is used to seal off the problem
vein. The catheter is slowly withdrawn and eventually removed (5-10 minutes
duration) and a band aid is placed over the tiny needle mark. NO cuts to
suture, nothing is left behind, and the patient can usually return to work
or near normal activity in just a day or so. They key question to answer is
whether the pain and discomfort one is experiencing from the leaking veins
is significant enough to justify the procedure. This technique has been
around for 10 years this November and the laser method of sealing the
leaking veins has been approved by the FDA since 2001. There are a variety
of wavelength lasers available. Generally speaking the higher the
wavelength the less bruising and smoother the recovery. The radiofrequency
Closure FAST device is also a very effective way to seal off the veins if you
have a phobia about lasers, but the technique is almost identical with the
exception of the RF generator which heats the catheter and the vein rather
than a laser.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
There are a number of different lasers used by different physicians.
The safety is a factor, and for this reason, you must be very careful in who
you choose to treat your veins.
It is my opinion that the best person is a board certified vascular surgeon
with experience.
Ask your doctor about the type of laser that he/she uses.
Published on Jul 11, 2012