National Center of Excellence for Vein Disorders

Videos About Venous Disease from the Vein Treatment Center

By: Hratch Karamanoukian, MD and Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

August 21, 2008

A study completed by UK surgeons addresses the types of varicose vein treatments offered by surgeons in the National Health Service and private practice. The vast majority (96%) offered conventional surgery, namely ligation and stripping and endovenous laser (EVL, EVLT^TM, ELVeS^TM) and radio frequency ablation (VNUS Closure^TM) were more likely to be offered in private practice than in NHS practice. Overall, 38% of respondents for NHS practice and 45% of respondents for private practice offered two or more modalities of treatment. “When asked to consider future practice, 70% surgeons felt that surgery would remain the most commonly used treatment followed by endovenous laser (11%) and VNUS Closure^TM (2%) procedures.

Dr Karamanoukian’s notes - As such, UK surgeons are still behind the times and these results are similar to such assimilation rates of new technology for venous reflux disease and varicose vein treatment in the U.S. This study was published by Winterborn and colleagues in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (August 2008).

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For more information about varicose veins, spider veins, venous reflux and treatment options such as the closure procedure or guided sclero, contact Dr. Karamanoukian at the Vein Treatment Center, a National Center of Excellence for Vein Disorders by email or by phone at (716) 839-3638.