Advantages of the VenaSeal Procedure for Varicose Vein Treatment

The VenaSeal procedure is a new method of vein closure that has unique advantages over other treatment options. Vein specialist Dr. Dev Batra provides a review of how VenaSeal treatment works and how its advantages might provide a better patient experience.

In our last post, we discussed the advent of minimally-invasive thermal ablation for the treatment of varicose veins. Over the course of the past two decades, thermal ablation has emerged as the gold standard for varicose vein treatment. As heat energy is involved, the procedure generally requires the use of “tumescent anesthesia” – a solution containing a very low dose of lidocaine (a numbing agent). This is to ensure that the patient does not experience any pain from nearby nerves affected by the heat. A combination of image-guided expertise and tumescent anesthesia makes for a very comfortable thermal ablation procedure with low pain scores for most patients.¹

What is VenaSeal

In the past few years, a new minimally-invasive modality for varicose vein treatment has emerged. The VenaSeal system – a bio-adhesive designed for use in the veins – was approved by the FDA in 2015 for the treatment of adults with clinically symptomatic venous reflux / varicose veins.² Similar to the thermal ablation modalities, the goal of VenaSeal is to permanently close down diseased veins. However, unlike thermal ablation, no heat is involved in the VenaSeal procedure. As such, no tumescent anesthesia (the numbing agent we discussed above) is required, leading some patients to elect this modality over standard thermal ablation.² The medical community refers to this type of modality as “NTNT”, or “non thermal, non tumescent”.

The VenaSeal Procedure

The procedure can take anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes, depending on the length of the vein needing treatment. After expert mapping of a patient’s individual reflux pattern, a catheter is ultrasound-guided to the highest point of reflux. VenaSeal™ adhesive is then injected in pre-specified volumes, segment-by-segment, followed by brief compression of the vein, until reaching the end of the diseased segment (hence why treatment time varies based on the length of the vein segment). Depending on the extent of disease, we may encourage the use of compression stockings following the procedure, however early real-world registry data have demonstrated that compression stockings may not be necessary.³⁻⁴

Clinical Outcomes of VenaSeal

The next logical question is: how do outcomes for VenaSeal compare to standard thermal ablation? The best answer that we have to this question comes from the VeClose study, a large study in which 222 patients were randomly assigned to either VenaSeal or radiofrequency ablation. At one year, the study showed similar improvement of symptoms, and similar rates of vein closure between the two groups – both groups achieving success rates greater than 95%.⁵ Unpublished three-year data were presented in London in April 2017, demonstrating similar efficacy between the two groups and addressing the lingering concerns about the long-term efficacy of VenaSeal.⁶

Improved Patient Experience

No Heat, No Tumescence, Fewer Needlesticks

Thermal ablation devices, such as radiofrequency and laser treatment, work by applying short bursts of focused heat to the inside of the vein that causes the vein to collapse. Over time, the treated vein is replaced by connective tissue as it heals from the thermal treatment.⁷ Many medically beneficial procedures are destructive in nature, so individuals considering treatment shouldn’t find this type of approach alarming. However, thermal treatment does require certain safeguards to protect patients from the adverse effects of extreme heat – one of which is the use of tumescent anesthesia. Tumescent anesthesia is a liquid that numbs the treatment area while providing a heat-conducting medium for the safe delivery of thermal energy.⁷

Covering the entire length of a vein with anesthesia can require several uncomfortable needlesticks. On the other hand, VenaSeal treatment is entirely non-thermal and, therefore, does not require tumescent anesthesia. In other words: fewer needlesticks and a more comfortable procedure.

Advantages of VenaSeal™ Treatment

• No heat, no tumescent anesthesia, less needlesticks ⁸
• Non-destructive, allowing immediate return to normal activities
• Less post-procedure pain and bruising ⁵
• No need for compression stockings ³

We’re always looking at new ways to improve the patient experience at Texas Vascular Institute, which is why we’re ecstatic to be one of the first vein clinics in the Dallas region to offer VenaSeal to our patients.

About the Author

Dr. Dev Batra, M.D. is a vein specialist and founding partner of Texas Vascular Institute. Holding board certifications in radiology and vascular & interventional radiology, he is well-versed in vein issues and has been voted one of D-Magazine’s best doctors in Dallas for three years running.

This blog post was written with research and editorial assistance from OnChart™.

References

[1] Mark H Meissner (2016). What is Effective Care of Varicose Veins? Phlebology, 31(1), 80-87.

[2] Venaseal Closure System Product Code VS-402. PT – 11348-01 Rev D, 2015-02.

[3] Gibson K., and Ferris B. Cyanoacrylate closure of incompetent great, small and accessory saphenous veins without the use of post-procedure compression: Initial outcomes of a post-market evaluation of the VenaSeal System (the WAVES Study) Vascular, 25(2):149-156.

[4] Thomas M. Proebstle et al. (2015). The European multicenter cohort study on cyanoacrylate embolization of refluxing great saphenous veins J Vasc Surg: Venous and Lym Dis, 3(1), 2-7.

[5] Nick Morrison et al. (2017). VeClose trial 12-month outcomes of cyanoacrylate closure versus radiofrequency ablation for incompetent great saphenous veins.Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 5:321-30.

[6] Three-Year VeClose Data and 1-Year WAVES Data Presented for Medtronic’s VenaSeal Closure System. Endovascular Today. Web: https://evtoday.com/2017/04/three-year-veclose-data-and-1-year-waves-data-presented-for-medtronics-venaseal-closure-system

[7] Lohr, J., & Kulwicki, A. (2010). Radiofrequency Ablation: Evolution of a Treatment. Seminars in Vascular Surgery, 23(2), 90–100.

[8] Kugler, N. W., & Brown, K. R. (2017). An update on the currently available nonthermal ablative options in the management of superficial venous disease. Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders, 5(3), 422–429.

[9] Joh, J. H., Kim, W.-S., Jung, I. M., Park, K.-H., Lee, T., Kang, J. M., & Consensus Working Group. (2014). Consensus for the Treatment of Varicose Vein with Radiofrequency Ablation. Vascular Specialist International, 30(4), 105–12.

Medical Disclaimer

The Materials available in the Texas Vascular Institute blog are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients.