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.