What is EVA (Endovenous Ablation)?
Laser energy seals the abnormal vein as the catheter is withdrawn preventing “reflux” of blood.
EVA is used as a minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of Varicose Veins. In laser ablation, a guide wire and the catheter sheath are long and are advanced to the end of the vein (such as the junction of the GSV and the femoral vein.) The physician removes the guide wire and inserts a laser fiber through the catheter sheath so that it protrudes slightly beyond the sheath. The fiber and sheath are pulled back slightly so that the laser does not protrude into the femoral vein. Local anesthesia is injected along the length of the vein that is being treated.
Using ultrasound for guidance, the physician ensures that the laser is properly placed at the end of the vein to be treated. He or she manually compresses the leg above the vein to help the walls of the vein come in contact with the laser. The physician activates the laser and then pulls it and the catheter sheath back a tiny distance. The physician repeats this sequence until the entire length of the diseased vein is treated with laser pulses. The laser fiber and the catheter sheath are removed, pressure is applied to the incision for a few minutes to stop any bleeding, and the procedure is complete.
Occasionally, the patient may experience brief pain if the radiofrequency catheter or laser heats tissue near a nerve. This pain disappears once the physician retracts the catheter away from the nerve.
The vein treatment procedure takes about 60 minutes and may relieve symptoms immediately.