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Diagnostic et traitement des varices des membres inférieurs - KCE

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10 Varicose Veins <strong>KCE</strong> Reports 164<br />

1.5.2 Endovenous Laser Therapy<br />

Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins. The<br />

procedure involves introduction of a laser fibre into the lumen of the saphenous vein,<br />

followed by the application of laser energy which <strong>des</strong>troys the vein wall after local<br />

injection of fluid to cause tumescence around the treated vein. The fibre and cath<strong>et</strong>er<br />

are slowly withdrawn and the vein lumen collapses, occluding the length of the vein and<br />

abolishing venous reflux 33 .<br />

1.5.3 Radiofrequency Ablation<br />

A similar technique to EVLT is radiofrequency ablation (RFA).<br />

A heat-generating cath<strong>et</strong>er inserted into the vein emits radio-frequency wavelengths for<br />

ablation 33 . After tumescent injection, the cath<strong>et</strong>er is heated and slowly withdrawn down<br />

the length of the vein, causing contraction of the vein wall and, ultimately, <strong>des</strong>truction of<br />

the vessel 29, 34 .<br />

1.5.4 Sclerotherapy<br />

Sclerotherapy involves injecting a sclerosing agent (polidocanol) into the varicose vein,<br />

which triggers an inflammatory reaction in the endothelium, causing phlebitis and vein<br />

occlusion 35 .<br />

Foam sclerotherapy mixes the liquid sclerosant with gas to create a larger surface area<br />

by displacing blood within the vein 36 . Foam sclerotherapy can be used for treating the<br />

GSV or the SSV or to treat the tributaries. The dose is adapted to the diam<strong>et</strong>er of the<br />

treated vein.<br />

1.5.5 Mixed treatments<br />

In practice, many surgeons perform a mix of treatments such as surgical ligation and<br />

stripping combined with sclerotherapy or EVLT combined with sclerotherapy.

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