VenaSeal Treatment

Superglue treatment is a unique non-surgical treatment that uses a medical adhesive to safely and effectively treat varicose veins. Unlike other treatments, it does not require tumescent local anesthetic around the vein, so there are far fewer injections. The procedure also eliminates the use of heat (or thermal energy) so there is virtually no risk of nerve or skin injury. As the medical ‘superglue’ sets within a few minutes, there is not the prolonged healing process associated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and medical stockings are not required afterward.

VenaSeal Procedure

A tiny catheter is positioned inside the unhealthy vein using ultrasound through a small puncture in the skin. Next, a small amount of adhesive is delivered inside the vein using a special dispenser to seal the vein which has been identified as being unhealthy and which is causing the varicose veins. After the treatment, blood then travels back to the heart in nearby healthy veins. The glued vein is then absorbed by the body’s natural healing processes.

VenaSeal Material

The adhesive that is used during the procedure is made with a medically approved type of Cyanoacrylate, which has a proven track record of over 50 years of use in the field of medicine. A unique formulation of the compound is also used which is specifically designed for the treatment of varicose veins.

Being such a new procedure, the superglue treatment does not have a procedure code and it is therefore not covered by private medical insurances. It can only be offered to those patients who are paying for themselves.

VenaSeal Patient Suitability

Patient suitability for superglue treatment will be determined after a full consultation and duplex ultrasound scan. After your assessment, the treatment will be discussed as well as more established alternatives such as VNUS Closure, endovenous laser (EVL) and Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy.

The early results of international research do look very promising. However, because the superglue treatment for varicose veins is so new, there isn’t sufficiently long clinical follow up to confirm that it keeps the vein closed in the medium to long term in every case.

Superglue treatment for varicose veins reduces the number of local anesthetic injections significantly, but if additional procedures are needed such as phlebotomy, then additional injections may be needed.

Conclusion

Finally, as the superglue treatment for varicose veins is so new, the cost is higher than that of endovenous laser or VNUS Closure:

• It is not a completely injection-free procedure.
• That the results of long term follow up are not available as it is so new.
• Private health insurance companies do not pay for this procedure.