VNUS FAST Closure^TM and Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT^TM) for Venous Reflux Disease

The Closure FAST procedure is a minimally invasive treatment alternative for patients with a condition known as superficial venous reflux disease – a treatable condition which often results in varicose veins and painful symptoms in the lower extremities – aching, pain, heaviness, tiredness, fatigue, itching, burning, cramping, throbbing, restless legs and swelling of the legs and ankles.

Varicose veins are known for their distinctive blue color and bulging appearance on the skin.  Resembling large, elongated ropes, they afflict an estimated 10% of the adult population in the United States.

As many as 45% of men in the 60-69 year age group have varicose veins and 75% of women in this age group have varicose veins.

About Venous Disease: Understanding Superficial Venous Reflux

Your legs are made up of a network of veins.  Healthy leg veins contain valves that open and close to assist the return of blood back to the heart. 

Venous reflux disease develops when the valves malfunction and instead of “holding” the blood above them allow blood to leak back into the legs. Unchecked, this results in enlarging veins in the lower extremities – in essence, the “lake backs up into the rivers and creeks”. The lake being the deep veins in the legs and the rivers being the superficial veins in the legs. This is a vicious cycle and as the superficial veins enlarge, they make these valve less competent, making the problem worse over time.

Treatment Options

1.    Traditional vein ligation and stripping – this is still done in the U.S and is associated with significant morbidity to the patient.

2.    VNUS FAST Closure^TM and EVLT^TM

The VNUS® Closure procedure, an alternative treatment option to traditional vein stripping surgery.

A catheter is introduced into the superficial vein system, such as the great saphenous or lesser saphenous vein and the vein is “closed”.

Surgeons with experience perform this in the office setting and discharge patients home within 30 minutes of completing the procedure using local anesthesia. General anesthesia is avoided and the patient can resume almost all of their routine activities within hours of the procedure.

 EVLT^TM uses laser energy instead of radiofrequency energy to perform “closure” of the offending venous system: