ClariVein Treatment at Dallas Vein Specialists

ClariVein (Mechanochemical) Treatment of Venous Incompetence

Dallas Vein Specialists is the first in the Dallas area to begin treating varicose vein patients with the new minimally invasive ClariVein device. This new device is actually a hybrid treatment utililizing endovenous treatment (treatment inside the vein), as is done with the radiofrequency and laser devices, and chemical ablation. It also employs a new approach, that of mechanical ablation, hence the term mechanochemical ablation.

The mechanochemical (ClariVein) ablation has several advantages including the following:

• painless procedure,
• local anesthesia only at one site, that of the insertion site,
• no need for tumescent anesthesia that requires multiple injections of fluid along the course of the treated vein,
• short procedure time, and
• minimal potential for any nerve damage.

This latter advantage allows easy treatment of incompetent saphenous veins low down in the leg where important sensory nerves travel intimately with both the great and small saphenous veins. These areas have usually been avoided with the laser or radiofrequency ablation devices in order to avoid thermal injury to the nerves that would result in pain, paresthesias, and permanent numbness to the ankle and foot areas.

The procedure involves insertion of the ClariVein catheter into the vein to be treated using ultrasound guidance. Once in place a tiny hockey stick wire is deployed at the tip of the catheter. A motor drive is attached to the catheter. Then as the catheter is slowly withdrawn from the vein, the motor is activated spinning the wire at the tip at 3600 revolutions per minute. At the same time a chemical sclerosant is injected into the vein at the tip where the mechanical spinning is occurring. The mechanical trauma to the inside of the vein disrupts the intimal lining of the vein, and the chemical agent further damages the inside vein wall. The result is rapid closure of the treated vein, and as in the thermal treatments, the vein disappears over time.

The results in the first 3 years of experience with the ClariVein have been excellent. The success rate (closure rate) has been 96% in trials in the United States and Europe.