Radiofrequency (ClosureFast™ / Venefit™ procedure)
The Venefit™ or ClosureFast® procedure is a minimally invasive treatment that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy to effectively treat patients suffering from varicose veins or Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). The physician inserts a catheter into a diseased vein to provide consistent and uniform heat to contract the collagen in the vein walls, causing them to collapse and close. After the vein is sealed shut, blood is then naturally redirected to healthy veins.
The Venefit™ procedure results in little to no scarring and is performed using local anesthesia in an out-patient setting in our specialised vein clinic.
The Procedure
The ClosureFast™ catheter is inserted into the vein through a tiny incision below the knee. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the physician injects local anesthetic into the tissue around the vein. Thereafter, he treats a 7 cm segment of vein with a 20-second burst of radiofrequency energy, causing the vessel to be heated to 120 degrees Celsius and to shrink around the catheter. The physician withdraws the catheter, treating each segment until the entire length of the vein has been sealed. An average 45 cm length vein can be treated in this manner in just three to five minutes.
This procedure causes less bruising and allows for rapid patient relief and recovery.
Potential risks and complications
As with any medical intervention, potential risks and complications exist with the procedure. We will review potential complications of the procedure at the consultation. The most frequently observed problem is paresthesia (numbness or tingling), which occurs also after stripping operations. Hematoma is not infrequent, but always benign and mostly due to phlebectomy rather than thermal ablation. Other complications are very rare and can include thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, phlebitis, infection, skin burn.
What happens to the treated vein left behind in the leg?
The vein simply becomes fibrous tissue after treatment. Over time, the vein will gradually be completely absorbed into surrounding tissue.
Benefits
Minimal, painless intervention
Minimal bleeding into the tissue
Optimal cosmetics
No hospital stay
Quick return to normal everyday life
Disadvantage
Noticeable needlesticks for local anesthesia during the procedure
Accumulated experience with Venefit™
The procedure has been carried out several million times worldwide, with a focus in the USA. In our practice, we have applied it over 2000 times. Large international multicenter studies showed it to be 90 -100 % effective over three years, i.e. more than surgery or foam sclerotherapy.