This weekend, Professor Whiteley gave a lecture in Milan at the IDF conference. He explained how to stop varicose veins coming back again after treatment.
Mark used results from his 15 year study, recently published in an international medical journal from the The Whiteley Clinic. This study looked at the long term results of the new endovenous treatments.
The results showed that when used correctly, the new endovenous techniques permanently destroy the underlying cause of the varicose veins.
By understanding the excellent results from The Whiteley Clinic, and comparing them to results from other studies performed in other clinics and hospitals, it has been possible to identify why varicose veins come back again in other practices.
The problem is that the companies making the devices don’t say which veins they are optimal for. This situation is made worse by the traditional approach of most doctors to varicose veins, where patients receive treatment with a standard approach.
Years of research, clinical experience and audits of results has led to the development of The Whiteley Protocol. Our protocol ensures that all of our patients receive treatment suited to their individual needs. Every patient receives a treatment plan tailored to their own pattern of venous disease.
Traditionally, doctors and nurses have been taught there are only 2 main veins that cause varicose veins. These are the great saphenous vein (GSV) and the small saphenous vein (SSV).
Note: run a mile from anyone calling them the long saphenous vein or the short saphenous vein. These names changed in Europe in 2001 and the USA in 2004 and anyone using these old names is 17 years behind the times!
However, research from the The Whiteley Clinic has been in the forefront in showing there are actually about 160 different veins that can cause varicose veins. Any number of these going wrong can lead to varicose veins.
Therefore, to get the excellent results that we do in the The Whiteley Clinic, we work in teams – as recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence).
Our dedicated vascular technologists perform the venous duplex ultrasound scans. These technologists only scan veins meaning that they are extremely thorough. They check all of the possible combinations of venous disease in the legs. Plus they also check the pelvic veins too if needed.
This takes about 30-45 minutes per scan. Research presented in New York in 2014 shows that if doctors do their own scan as part of a consultation, they miss at least 30% of the possible veins that might cause the problem. This is why the team approach is essential for patients.
Once the scan is complete the venous consultant will receive it. Additionally they will then use The Whiteley Protocol to follow the 3 stages of treatment (if needed).
Stage 1 – Treating the underlying reflux with techniques that are permanent and stop the regrowth found after stripping. This includes treating the pelvic veins in 20% of females and 3% of men.
Stage 2 – Using foam sclerotherapy to remove any final veins and stop the biological process of varicose vein re-growth.
Stage 3 – Treating thread veins with microsclerotherapy (if needed)
Our audits have shown that when patients are treated by us at the The Whiteley Clinic, using The Whiteley Protocol, the treated varicose veins do not come back again.
The only chance of any varicose veins ever coming back again in a leg treated by us using The Whiteley Protocol, is if valves fail in a working vein. In addition this can led to a new “de-novo” varicose vein.
However, this only happens in 3 – 4% of people per year. This is the lowest possible risk of getting varicose veins again.
If you are concerned about your vein health please call The Whiteley Clinic on 0330 058 1850 to book your consultation and scan.
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