Perfection 22 years after varicose veins treatment

We have just seen Janice, 22 years after her varicose veins treatment at The Whiteley Clinic. Duplex ultrasound has shown a perfect result from the treatment!

Janice, 22 years after her varicose vein treatment, with Prof Mark Whiteley and Judy Holdstock,

In 2017, our 15 years results were published to prove how varicose veins treatments using The Whiteley Protocol are effective in the long term. The publication was in a peer-reviewed medical journal. (See: https://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884(17)30351-9/fulltext)

Before 1999, the usual way to treat varicose veins was stripping under a general anaesthetic. Mark Whiteley and his team showed that stripping veins does not work in the majority of cases, as the veins grow back again and without working valves. (See: https://thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/research/published-research/varicose-veins-come-back-stripping-5-8-year-results/)

First VNUS Closure in the UK for varicose veins

On 12 March 1999, Mark Whiteley and Judy Holdstock from The Whiteley Clinic performed the first endovenous surgery for varicose veins in the UK.( link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1374873/New-varicose-vein-surgery-speeds-recovery.html)

Under an ultrasound guidance from Judy, Mark placed an endovenous catheter into the great saphenous vein. Failure of valves in this vein causes varicose veins in a large number of patients. Hence it is usually this vein that is stripped out.

Instead of stripping the vein, Mark and Judy used the endovenous catheter to heat the vein wall. This controlled heating permanently shrank and closed the vein. This was the first case of endovenous thermoablation in the UK. It gave rise to the trend that you can now see all over the UK where people advertise endovenous laser (EVLA) and endovenous radiofrequency (RFA).

In the first case, Mark and Judy used radiofrequency ablation. Using a VNUS closure catheter, a radiofrequency electric current was passed into the vein wall. This heated the vein wall permanently shrinking it and destroying it. This meant that the cause of the varicose veins was permanently removed.

Now Mark has turned to more modern treatment techniques rather than radiofrequency to get the best results. These include laser, radial laser, microwave, and Sonovein.

Patient’s Scan Results – 22 years post-surgery

One of our first patients who underwent VNUS Closure in 1999 has recently returned for a standard check-up scan and has had the remarkable news that the veins we treated on her 22 years ago are still closed!

This proves that treatment at The Whiteley Clinic, done following The Whiteley Protocol, is effective and stands to offer excellent long-term results!