Venaseal

Medically reviewed by Dr. Rohan Parab, M.D,  FRCPC (Diagnostic Radiology), FRCPC (Interventional Radiology)

What is Venaseal^TM?

Venaseal^TM is a relatively new and minimally invasive method for treating varicose veins without the need for surgery. Cyanoacrylate adhesive is used to permanently seal or close diseased veins, re-routing blood through nearby healthy veins.

Venaseal^TM Procedure Details

• Patients are given a gown to change into. The first step in the procedure is to map out the vein of interest with ultrasound imaging.
• Once the veins are mapped, patients are positioned on the exam table, and the area of interest is prepared (sterilized and isolated with drapes).
• The injection site is frozen with a local anesthetic, and a needle is placed through the skin into the vein. On rare occasions, a small incision is made.
• A guidewire is placed through the needle into the vein. Patients may feel the wire, but it will not be painful.
• A sheath is placed over the guidewire, and ultrasound imaging is used to confirm positioning.
• Next, the Venaseal^TM catheter is placed into the sheath. Once the position of the catheter is established, the adhesive is deposited.
• A sterile strip is applied after the catheter is removed.
• Finally, a compression stocking is positioned, and patients are encouraged to walk around for five minutes to help with circulation.

Venaseal^TM Recovery

This procedure results in no to minimal after-procedure pain, has a quick recovery period, leaves minimal to no scarring, and can provide almost immediate relief from your symptoms.

Occasionally, mild to moderate pain can persist for 2-4 weeks along the glued vein. This discomfort can be managed with a combination of light walking, leg elevation, and, if needed, anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen.

Patients may also experience inflammation along the inner thigh in line with the treated vein. Again, this can be managed with anti-inflammatories and compression stockings.

Published scientific studies show that Venaseal^TM has a 95% success rate at three months with excellent long-term results (Morrison et al., 2020).

Venaseal^TM Costs

Venaseal^TMtreatment provided by MIC is not covered by Alberta Health Care. This procedure costs $2,800 for one leg or $5,000 for both legs.

Return Visits and Post Procedure Timeline

We will perform an ultrasound seven to ten days later to rule out any post-procedure complications such as deep vein thrombosis. These complications are extremely rare.

After your return visit, you can return to all activities, including vigorous exercise, one-week post-procedure.

After 12-14 weeks, your doctor will re-assess your veins using ultrasound to ensure treatment success.