CVVI-Cardiovascular & Vein Institute

New Venefit procedure offing hope to patients with varicose viens.

The Venefit™ Procedure

The Venefit™ procedure is a minimally invasive alternative to vein stripping for the treatment of varicose veins and its common underlying cause, venous reflux. Varicose veins are swollen, dark blue or purple blood vessels that you can see and feel beneath the skin. They often look like twisted cords, and usually appear on the calves, inside of the legs and ankles.

Varicose veins form when the valves within a vein falter and allow some blood to flow backward. The vein weakens under the additional strain and balloons outward, raising the skin surface. This is not only a cosmetic problem, but if the reflux progresses to chronic venous insufficiency, it becomes a medical issue as well. That condition can cause serious symptoms including swelling and pain in the legs, leg fatigue and skin ulcerations

Instead of surgically removing the diseased vein, the Venefit™ procedure delivers radio frequency (RF) energy via a catheter to the clogged vein. The RF energy causes the collagen to heat and then shrink. This contraction results in collapse and closure of the vein. Venefit™ offers a number of benefits over vein stripping and other treatment methods including faster treatment and recovery time, less discomfort during and after the procedure, and little or no scarring, bruising or swelling. Additionally, it allows patients to avoid the risks of undergoing invasive groin surgery and having general anesthesia.

Venefit™ features advantages when compared to various forms of laser ablation treatment as well. Traditional laser ablation heats the blood within the affected vein to extremely high temperatures, at which point a steam bubble develops. This damages the vein and causes it to collapse. But this intense heat can do harm to the vein walls, which may result in the patient suffering from considerable bruising and pain following the procedure. Venefit™, on the other hand, employs controlled, consistent heat that gently and safely contracts and seals the affected veins. This leaves the vein walls undamaged and intact, greatly reducing the likelihood of pain or bruising in Venefit™ patients.

The Venefit™ procedure can be an effective treatment method for adults of all ages who have been diagnosed with varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency. Both men and women may be good candidates for the procedure. After a thorough evaluation, your vein specialist can determine whether this form of therapy is the best option for your specific needs.

A Venefit™ procedure can be performed under local or regional anesthesia as an in-office or outpatient treatment. It is typically completed in 45 minutes to an hour. Anesthetic and a saline solution are injected to numb the leg, and the surgeon will make a very small incision just below the knee. A catheter is inserted through this incision. Ultrasound imaging is used to locate the treatment site and guide the catheter. The doctor then delivers a 20-second pulse of radiofrequency energy and, after confirming with the imaging that the vein has been fully closed, withdraws the catheter. If necessary, the catheter may be reinserted numerous times to apply the RF energy to multiple areas of diseased vein.