I don't give antibiotics in this situation. It's a procedure with low risk of infection.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The risk of infection is so infinitesimally small with venous ablation that antibiotics are not recommended.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

You should not. The hardware is not brand new and the laser procedure should be performed under sterile technique.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

The risk is exceptionally low to develop bacteremia (bacteria in the blood) from a thermal ablation procedure. This is a discussion you should have with your vein specialist and cardiologist, however. Bacteria are commonly encountered during dental procedures, and this underlies the recommendation on your card. Given we do not know your heart condition (assuming heart valve), it is best to get all of the cooks in the kitchen to make sure a prudent decision is made to offer the most appropriate safeguards.

Published on Jul 11, 2012

I don't typically give prophylactic antibiotics in patients who have had TKR or THR unless it was recent. However, I try to do ablations BEFORE knee or hip replacements, not shortly after.

The endovenous ablation procedures are classified as CLEAN procedures by the American College of Surgeons, and the risk of infecting a prosthetic graft placed more than a year ago is very, very small.

IF your orthopedic surgeon wants you to take prophylactic antibiotics, you should take it. The decision is deferred to your orthopedic surgeon. Call him or her for their opinion.

Published on Jul 11, 2012