10.1177/1534734604272245BEALE ET ALMINIMALLY INVASIVE TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS Review Papers Minimally Invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins: A Review of Endovenous Laser Treatment and Radiofrequency Ablation

Varicose veins are a common problem, conventionally treated by an operation. Within the last few years, minimally invasive techniques have been developed as alternatives to surgery in anattempt to reducemorbidity and improve recov-ery time. Radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ab-lation are the most promising of these new techniques. This review article looks at the evidence for these techniques and the clinical experience to date and discusses their role in the future treatment of varicose veins. Key words: varicose veins, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser Varicose veins are a common problem, affecting upto 32 % of women and 40 % of men.1 Although of-ten asymptomatic, varicose veins may be associated with aching, itching, or heavy legs, and less commonly edema, lipodermatosclerosis, or even frank ulceration