Why doesn't Endovenous Laser Ablation laser the lower leg?

If the evlt procedure doesn't alleviate problems in the lower leg do /can you laser the lower leg?

Answers from doctors (10)


Vein Specialties of St. Louis

Published on Jan 18, 2019

EVLA of the long saphenous vein below the knee is usually not indicated and has a higher risk of nerve damage.
EVLA of the short saphenous vein, which is in the back of the calf below the knee, is a common procedure with low risk in experienced hands.

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Answered by Vein Specialties of St. Louis

EVLA of the long saphenous vein below the knee is usually not indicated and has a higher risk of nerve damage.
EVLA of the short saphenous vein, which is in the back of the calf below the knee, is a common procedure with low risk in experienced hands.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Oct 04, 2010

Endovenous laser ablation can be used for the lower leg. The reason it is stopped around the knee is because the saphenous nerve is very close to the saphenous vein from the knee down and can be injured by the laser. Usually from the knee down this can be treated with foam sclerotherapy. For significant reflux and especially for chronic venous insufficiency, I laser to almost the ankle.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Endovenous laser ablation can be used for the lower leg. The reason it is stopped around the knee is because the saphenous nerve is very close to the saphenous vein from the knee down and can be injured by the laser. Usually from the knee down this can be treated with foam sclerotherapy. For significant reflux and especially for chronic venous insufficiency, I laser to almost the ankle.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Laser Vein Center

Published on Mar 14, 2010

Yes you can laser in the lower leg, you have to be much more careful. There is a nerve that supplies sensation to the skin, saphenous nerve, that runs along the vein in the lower leg. The heat can damage the nerve and you can get temporary numbness or permanent numbness from this. Sometimes this is avoidable if enough tumescent is used however sometimes regardless of how good your technique is the nerve can still be damaged.

Answered by Laser Vein Center (View Profile)

Yes you can laser in the lower leg, you have to be much more careful. There is a nerve that supplies sensation to the skin, saphenous nerve, that runs along the vein in the lower leg. The heat can damage the nerve and you can get temporary numbness or permanent numbness from this. Sometimes this is avoidable if enough tumescent is used however sometimes regardless of how good your technique is the nerve can still be damaged.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Angelo N. Makris MD

Published on Mar 11, 2010

Endovenous ablation below the knee has a higher incidence of nerve injury and that is why most ablations of the greater saphenous vein are done above the knee.

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Answered by Angelo N. Makris MD

Endovenous ablation below the knee has a higher incidence of nerve injury and that is why most ablations of the greater saphenous vein are done above the knee.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

Published on Mar 11, 2010

Endovenous thermal ablation, either by LASER or radiofrequency, can be done to occlude nearly any vein which is straight enough to pass the device up the vein. There is a higher risk of injury to a nerve near the greater saphenous vein in the calf than there is when the treatment is limited to the thigh. This is a sensory nerve providing sensation to some of the skin of the leg. This usually is not a major problem. Many phlebologists selectively use endovenous thermal ablation for the great saphenous vein in the calf or for the small saphenous vein. The devices cannot be passed up varicose veins with significant curves, so other techniques such as foam sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy are used for these veins.

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Answered by VeinCare Centers of Tennessee

Endovenous thermal ablation, either by LASER or radiofrequency, can be done to occlude nearly any vein which is straight enough to pass the device up the vein. There is a higher risk of injury to a nerve near the greater saphenous vein in the calf than there is when the treatment is limited to the thigh. This is a sensory nerve providing sensation to some of the skin of the leg. This usually is not a major problem. Many phlebologists selectively use endovenous thermal ablation for the great saphenous vein in the calf or for the small saphenous vein. The devices cannot be passed up varicose veins with significant curves, so other techniques such as foam sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy are used for these veins.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


General Vascular Surgery Group

Published on Mar 11, 2010

It can be done in the lower leg but generally the problem is in the thigh vein which is the source of the varices.

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Answered by General Vascular Surgery Group

It can be done in the lower leg but generally the problem is in the thigh vein which is the source of the varices.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Heart and Vein Center

Published on Mar 11, 2010

EVLT is a procedure that is highly effective to aleviate leg pain due to venous insufficiency. Most of the? patients obtain a great deal of relief by having just the greater saphenous vein treated (upper leg).
For some patients, that is not enough. In these patients if they have insufficiency of the Lesser saphenous vein we can also use EVLT to treat that vein and?can be?effective.
Other patients we use EVLT to treat "perforator veins" in the calf.
Still others that we cannot use EVLT due to their particular anatomy we use other methods to relief the symptoms.

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Answered by Heart and Vein Center

EVLT is a procedure that is highly effective to aleviate leg pain due to venous insufficiency. Most of the? patients obtain a great deal of relief by having just the greater saphenous vein treated (upper leg).
For some patients, that is not enough. In these patients if they have insufficiency of the Lesser saphenous vein we can also use EVLT to treat that vein and?can be?effective.
Other patients we use EVLT to treat "perforator veins" in the calf.
Still others that we cannot use EVLT due to their particular anatomy we use other methods to relief the symptoms.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialists

Published on Mar 11, 2010

EVLT is the acronym for laser treatment of the veins. The laser seals the vein with heat. If the laser is performed on the vein in the thigh segment, the segment below the knee may still be open and leaky. Consider having another ultrasound to see if the vein below the knee is still leaking. If it is, then the laser can be used to seal this lower segment.

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Answered by Vein Specialists

EVLT is the acronym for laser treatment of the veins. The laser seals the vein with heat. If the laser is performed on the vein in the thigh segment, the segment below the knee may still be open and leaky. Consider having another ultrasound to see if the vein below the knee is still leaking. If it is, then the laser can be used to seal this lower segment.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vein Specialty Medical Clinic, Inc.

Published on Mar 11, 2010

Because the greater saphenous at calf level is in most segments attached to the nerve (sup. saphenous nerve), and the high temprature generate by the laser, can damage that nerve, resulting in permanent numbness on inner aspect of calf. Furthermore, in the case of greater saphenous vein varicosity, usually, there are multiple accessory branches of that vein that are varicose. Laser cannot treat these side branches, while other treatments, such as foam-sclerotherapy work well, after the upper part of greater spahenous vein in treated by endovenous laser ablation first.

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Answered by Vein Specialty Medical Clinic, Inc.

Because the greater saphenous at calf level is in most segments attached to the nerve (sup. saphenous nerve), and the high temprature generate by the laser, can damage that nerve, resulting in permanent numbness on inner aspect of calf. Furthermore, in the case of greater saphenous vein varicosity, usually, there are multiple accessory branches of that vein that are varicose. Laser cannot treat these side branches, while other treatments, such as foam-sclerotherapy work well, after the upper part of greater spahenous vein in treated by endovenous laser ablation first.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Miller Vein

Published on Mar 04, 2010

Yes, if there is a refluxing (leaking) vein, it can be treated.

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Answered by Miller Vein

Yes, if there is a refluxing (leaking) vein, it can be treated.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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