Closure technique

This relatively new technique involves insertion of a wire or fiber into the long saphenous vein and closing this vein from groin down to the knee region. Electro-frequency waves and laser beams can be used to achieve this. I have chosen not to offer or perform this treatment in my patients for several reasons:

• It usually requires major anesthesia and use of the hospital
• It fails to close the incompetent valve which has caused the varicose veins in the leg. Our experience in the last fifty years with complete stripping has shown that when the physician does not correct the incompetent valves, the varicose veins always come back.
• Also, there have been rare cases of embolus (clot) and even death reported with closure technique. Considering all these factors, I do not recommend this approach to my patients.