Starting an endovascular vein program : tools, facilities and

management of patients

Jacques Bleyn

Antwerp Blood-vessel Center (ABC)

Belgium

ABC principles

• Endovascular• Percutaneous• Local anaesthesia• Day clinic

Is it necessary to do these treatments in a clinic or can they be done safely office-

based?

Preop preparation

• No preop examinations• Mild anxiolytic drug• Shaving over the varicose veins• Antithrombotic stocking at the

controlateral limb• Marking with echography in standing

position by the surgeon that will perform the intervention

local anesthesia

• Under echo graphic control with isotonic bicarbonate solution with only 20 cc Xylocain 1%/500 cc.

• Femoral block with 30cc Lidocain 1% to make the administration of the tumescence painless

Isotonic bicarbonate please

Courtesy of Dr. Denis Creton

Tumescent anesthesia under echo

Endovenous treatment

• Puncture of the Saphenous Vein at knee level under echography or at ankle.

• Positioning of the catheter at the Sapheno-femoral junction.

• Administration of the tumescent anaesthesia and RF-treatment.

Puncture under echography

Surgical complement

• Müller excision of varicous side branches in thigh and calf under local anaesthesia with the same bicarbonate solution

• Steristrips, compression bandage and immediate mobilisation.

• Discharge +/- 2 hours postop with elastic stocking for 1 week. 24 hrs work incapacity.

conclusionTo start your endovenous programme,

you need:• An endovascular mind.• A quality Duplex scan and the necessary

skill to use it pre- and peroperatively, a sterile sleeve and sterile gel.

• Local anaesthesia skills.

Conclusion 2

This is all easy to obtain and will make you hate classical surgical stripping.

Thank you