Endovenous ablation is a minimally invasive procedure for treating chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). These procedures are performed on veins that have experienced valve failure, leading to blood pooling in the leg.
The most common vein treated with endovenous ablation is the great saphenous vein, which runs along the inner part of the calf and thigh. However, these methods can also be used to treat the small saphenous veins, perforating veins, and accessory great saphenous veins.
In the past, vein stripping was the most common treatment for CVI. Vein stripping is surgery to remove varicose veins in the legs. However, endovenous ablation has become the preferred method for most cases in the last decade. Unlike vein stripping, which requires hospitalization and general anesthesia, endovenous ablation can be done in an office setting and does not require general anesthesia.