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Questions and AnswersHow effective is EVLA?Endovenous Laser ablation treatment has proven to be up to 97% - 98% effective. Does the loss of the vein cause a problem in the leg circulatory system? No, the vessel which is treated is diseased and therefore not functioning properly. There are many veins in the leg and the blood will be re routed into a different healthy vein. Does this procedure require hospitalization? No. EVLA is minimally invasive and is done in our office at the Vein Institute of Pittsburgh. What if I need to undergo heart bypass and I no longer have my saphenous available? There are other veins that may be used for heart bypass surgery such as the internal mammary. How long does the procedure take? Generally, the procedure takes less than an hour. Immediately after completion of the procedure, patients are up and walking. What can I expect after treatment? Patients are required to wear medical grade support hose for up to two weeks following the procedure. Patients may have minimal soreness, which over the counter non aspirin pain relievers can alleviate. Bruising is to be expected, but resolves on its own, depending on each individual. What is the recovery time following a procedure? Since Endovenous Laser Ablation is minimally invasive, patients are able to walk out of our office and return to work or their other normal activities the next day. Prior to leaving our office, patients will be asked to walk for approximately 20 minutes. Vigorous activity such as aerobic, running, swimming and gym work out should be avoided for two weeks. However, as part of the post op care, we request that patients walk at least twice a day for 20 minutes. We strongly encourage getting up every hour, while awake, and walk (ideally 10-15 minutes). You should avoid sitting or standing for prolonged periods of time. Does Insurance cover Endovenous Laser Aablation? Insurance will often reimburse a percentage of the treatment cost if there is a documented problem of venous insufficiency. This is determined through venous studies prior to treatment. Our office assists patients with the insurance process. Is EVLA as effective as vein stripping? Traditional vein stripping is an invasive procedure. Vein stripping is performed under general anesthesia, due to the fact that the vein is "stripped" from the leg by pulling it out through incisions from the groin and ankle. Traditional vein stripping is painful and requires considerable recovery time. There are current medical studies showing that recurring incidences of varicose vein disease are actually less with EVLA than traditional and more traumatic vein stripping. What are the risks of this procedure? The safety profile of EVLA treatments is high. However, there are always potential complications with any medical procedure. This is why all patients undergo a thorough evaluation prior to treatment to discuss if EVLA is right for them. Potential complications may include numbness or tingling, skin burns, blood clots, and temporary tenderness or tightness in the treated leg. These complications are extremely rare. Who is not a good candidate? Patients should not be treated for varicose vein disease within three months of surgery or pregnancy. Patient who have a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or are unable to ambulate are not good candidates for this procedure. |
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