Endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein

Summary

The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) reconsidered this procedure in light of comments received during the initial consultation in May 2003. As a result, NICE issued a second consultation document about its safety and efficacy.

NICE has now issued full guidance to the NHS is England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein.

Description

Under ultrasound guidance and local anaesthesia, a catheter is placed into the long saphenous vein. A laser fibre is passed through it and positioned below the saphenofemoral junction.

An anaesthetic agent is then injected, and the fibre is slowly withdrawn while energy from a diode laser (810 or 940 nm wavelength) is applied in short pulses. This is repeated along the entire length of the vein until the long saphenous vein is closed from the saphenofemoral junction to the point of access.

OPCS code:

Details

Contact details:

Links:

	IPG052 Endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein - guidance	16 March 2004
	IPG052 Endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein - information for people considering the procedure, and for the public	16 March 2004
	IPG052 Endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein - Distribution list	30 March 2004
	Interventional procedure consultation document for endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein(second consultation)	25 November 2003
	Overview of endovenous laser treatment of the long saphenous vein (second consultation)	24 November 2003
	Interventional procedures consultation document - endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins (first consultation)	20 August 2003
	Overview of endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins (first consultation)	26 August 2003