Endovenous thermal ablation is a minimally-invasive treatment that involves the insertion of a thin, flexible tube called a catheter into a diseased vein to seal it shut using heat. Blood that would normally return to the heart through these veins will then travel through other veins instead. The treated vein dries up, shrinks and is absorbed by the body.
Two types of energy may be used:
- Radiofrequency Ablation uses radiofrequency energy to provide an even and uniform heat to contract the collagen in the vein walls, causing them to collapse and seal off.
- Laser Ablation delivers laser energy to heat the blood, causing it to coagulate (solidify) and close off the diseased vein.
5195|/cmsms_image]