Description:
Symptomatic venous insufficiency is common, affecting 1-15% of adult men and 20-25% of adult women. Saphenous vein insufficiency is the most common form of venous insufficiency in patients presenting with symptoms, which include pain, oedema, fatigue, varicose veins and venous ulcers.
Radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins involves heating the wall of the vein using a bipolar generator and catheters with sheathable electrodes
The saphenous vein is accessed above or below the knee either percutaneously via an intravenous cannula/venipuncture sheath or via a small incision. The catheter is manually withdrawn at 2.5-3cm/minute, and the vein wall temperature is maintained at 85°C.
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