International prize for varicose veins research

Harry Ashpitel, PhD student at the The Whiteley Clinic, wins third prize for his varicose veins research at the American College of Phlebology meeting in the USA.

Harry Ashpitel being presented 3rd Prize for his research at The American College of Phlebology Nov 2016

The Whiteley Clinic is internationally recognised for the excellence of its research and treatments for patients with varicose veins and other venous conditions.

It is only by constant research and development that The Whiteley Clinic make sure that it offers patients the very best treatments available, often many years before other doctors or hospitals know about the latest treatments.

The Whiteley Clinic has a commitment to being a world leader in the treatment of varicose veins. This is achieved by being at the forefront of all varicose vein research.

The Whiteley Clinic is unique in the private sector because it puts so much of its money into research rather than into shareholders funds. It is for this reason that The Whiteley Clinic stays as the Premier clinic to have veins treated in the UK, and one of the very best in the whole world.

Why this Varicose veins research won a prize

Many doctors, clinics and hospitals tell patients they are having endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins and patients except this. However many patients do not realise that there are different lasers with different wavelengths and different devices that spread the energy within the vein in different ways.

The Whiteley Clinic has been researching which techniques are best for patients for over 16 years now. In this research study, Harry Ashpitel looked at veins that were treated with the two most popular endovenous laser wavelengths, 810 nm and 1470 nm.

Although previous studies had suggested that one might be better than the other, these studies were complicated by different powers, techniques for using the laser and also different laser fibres.

Harry, under the guidance of Prof Mark Whiteley, use the same laser fibres with the same powers in vein samples, the only difference between them being the wavelength. Using this strict methodology and the techniques of looking at the cells in the vein wall at the University of Surrey, he was able to show exactly how each wavelength differed in the treatment of veins.

This research is part of a much larger research project which continues to make sure that the Whiteley Protocol is the optimal way to treat varicose veins and venous diseases.