NICE guidelines confirm endothermal ablation techniques as the best treatment for varicose veins

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently published its recommendations for the modern treatment of varicose veins based on the best available clinical research. These guidelines confirm that endothermal techniques such as endovenous laser are now the recommended primary techniques for the treatment of varicose veins. Foam sclerotherapy and traditional surgery are reserved for those veins which are not suitable for endothermal techniques – but this will be the minority of patients. The long term use of compression stockings to control the symptoms of varicose veins is no longer advised and this overturns previous advice.

Mr Gaunt says “the latest guidelines from NICE finally confirm what I and other surgeons who specialise in the treatment of varicose veins have been saying for many years that techniques such as the endovenous laser are far superior to other treatments”.

Mr Gaunt has performed over 4000 endovenous laser treatments with approximately 90% performed as local anaesthetic day case procedures with excellent medical and cosmetic results. Research on Mr Gaunt’s patients show that over 72% of patients require no analgsesia at all after leaving hospital after their day case procedure – not even a paracetamol!

The research from NICE did not consider the latest endoluminal technique, Clarivein as part of its assessment as there are not enough research papers published on this technique yet but based on Mr Gaunt’s experience of over 300 cases this is likely to receive a similar endorsement in due course.

Summer legs: no need to wait until new year. Make a resolution now that that next summer you won’t feel embarrassed to expose your legs to the sunshine because of unsightly varicose veins and threadveins

With the excellent weather this summer have you been one of those individuals who’ve longed to get those shorts or swimming costumes on but haven’t because you are embarrassed by unsightly varicose veins and threadveins? Sometimes it only takes one critical comment from a friend, family member or even a stranger to spoil your day and cause you to cover-up. This limits your choice of clothing, your leisure activities and your enjoyment of life and there is no need to put up with it any longer when modern treatments are so simple and effective. Why not book a free 15 minute consultation with Mr Gaunt to explore your options and this time next year you can enjoy the summer sunshine to the full.

Teaching at Europe’s leading vascular symposium

I was delighted to be invited to participate in the Charing Cross (CX) Symposium on 8th April. The CX Symposium is Europe’s longest-running and leading vascular symposium and is regarded as a must-attend event for cardiac professionals.

The event is a highly prestigious one, having been established over 35 years, attracting thousands of vascular specialists to the capital.

I was asked to teach mechanochemical ablation with particular focus on familiarising delegates with the Clarivein technique.

Having successfully treated over 200 patients with Clarivein since late 2010, I was delighted to share my knowledge with an enthusiastic audience of mixed backgrounds – from professors to novices.

I strongly believe teaching is an important part of medicine, something I greatly enjoy, and the hallmark of the CX Office Based Veins Course is its flexible small group, one-on-one teaching, rather than traditional lectures.

Make sorting out those varicose veins or threadveins your New Years resolution

Happy new year everyone. This is the traditional time to take stock and make resolutions for the year ahead. One such resolution may be to finally sort out those varicose veins or threadveins which having been causing discomfort or preventing you from wearing the clothes you want.

Fortunately, there has never been a better time to undergo vein treatment with a host of new minimally invasive methods which can be performed under local anaesthetic as walk-in walk-out procedures.

One such new method is the Clarivein technique. I was one of the first surgeons in the UK invited to evaluate the procedure which was developed in the USA. Over the Christmas break my team were busy writing up the results and submitting an academic paper for publication describing our first 150 Clarivein procedures. The outcomes from this have been very good with no serious complications or treatment failures combined with excellent functional and cosmetic results. In particular, the combination of Clarivein with multiple avulsions has been very successful and because this is performed under local anaesthetic in the outpatient clinic, rather than the operating theatre, this is a particularly cost-effective option for self-funding patients.

Following this with injection microsclerotherapy treatment for threadveins, which often accompany varicose veins, means you can look forward to the summer with confidence.

Best wishes for 2013.

Varicose Veins: from cosmetic blemish to limb threatening ulceration

On the 22^nd September the Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital organised a GP educational meeting in the wonderful surroundings of the Duxford Air Museum. As chairman of the Consultant’s Committee it was my pleasure to welcome over 150 General Practitioners to hear lectures from Cambridge experts on a wide range of medical conditions. I chaired the morning session which included presentations on cardiology, orthopaedics and gastroenterology. The title of my own lecture was ‘Varicose Veins: from cosmetic blemish to limb threatening ulceration’. This provided a valuable opportunity to explain why varicose veins must not underestimated and dispel some of the common myths and misunderstanding surrounding the condition. I described the latest minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of varicose veins and thread-veins which stimulated a lot of interesting questions. The GPs were particularly interested in the way these techniques have totally changed the treatment of varicose veins to a local anaesthetic walk-in, walk-out technique with almost immediate return to normal activities.

Annual scientific meeting between Cambridge and Yale Universities

On the 9th to the 11th September I took part in the annual scientific meeting between Cambridge and Yale Universities at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. As usual, the meeting provides a fascinating and highly enjoyable opportunity to hear the latest research findings from both centres. It also provides an opportunity to reinforce academic and social links with colleagues from across the Atlantic. One such link is with my good friend Alan Dardik, Associate Professor of Surgery at Yale. Earlier this year Alan and I collaborated to write a textbook for higher surgical trainee surgeons entitled ‘Outpatient Surgery’ which has been very well received. As part of the meeting we presented a signed copy of the book to the joint organisers Dr John Bradley (Cambridge) and Professor Jordan Porber (Yale) as a vote of thanks for all their hard work.

There’s more to veins than vanity

Varicose veins can effect up to 20% of the UK’s adult population. They are unsightly and painful but, worse still, can also lead to serious health problems. Mr Michael Gaunt a Consultant Vascular Surgeon who specialises in the minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and threadveins, looks the options available to sufferers.

“Varicose veins occur when small valves inside the veins stop working properly so that rather than blood flowing smoothly back towards the heart, the blood stagnates within the veins causing aching, tiredness and discomfort,” explains Mr Gaunt.

“The veins are usually blue or dark purple and may also be lumpy or twisted in appearance and while any vein in the body can be affected, they most commonly develop in the legs and feet . This is because standing and walking puts extra pressure on the veins in the lower body.

“Initially, problem veins may not be visible but the symptoms still occur. Patches of blue threadveins may sometimes be the first signs of an underlying problem and eventually, the abnormal veins become swollen, enlarged and varicose.

“In the early stages varicose veins and threadveins may be mainly a cosmetic problem, however, if ignored, the condition can deteriorate and various complications can occur such as leg swelling, pigmentation of the skin around the ankles and ulcers.
“Sometimes veins can burst causing bleeding, or the blood within the veins can clot leading to the painful condition of phlebitis or even deep vein thrombosis. People who use air travel for work or holidays may be at increased risk particular if those flights are long haul.

“Fortunately, modern minimally-invasive treatments can now often be performed under local anaesthetic as a walk-in walk-out procedure, with minimal post-operative pain and almost immediate return to normal activity.

“I have treated over 4,000 patients with the Endovenous laser and Clarivein techniques – both are associated with considerably less pain, bruising and scarring than traditional stripping techniques and both offer very good longterm results.”

FREE 15-minute mini consultations
Mr. Gaunt offers FREE 15-minute mini consultations for patients to visit him and be initially assessed. He will then offer them a diagnosis and discuss potential treatment and steps forward. These no-obligation consultations are offered at the BMI Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital, Spire Norwich Hospital and Cambridge Nuffield Hospital. For more information or to make a booking, contact his private secretary on 01223 305858 or visit www.michaelgaunt.com.