Foam injections for varicose veins better for patients and cheaper, study finds | Imperial News

Foam injections to treat varicose veins cause patients less pain and could save the NHS money compared to laser treatment – News Release

Imperial College London Press Release

Embargoed until
9 a.m. UK time
Sunday, September 25, 2011

Foam injections to treat varicose veins cause less pain for patients and could save the NHS money compared to a popular alternative treatment, according to researchers at Imperial College London. The study found that foam therapy was more than four times more cost-effective than laser therapy and allowed patients to resume normal activity sooner. The findings were presented today at its annual meeting European Society of Vascular Surgery in Athens.

Varicose veins develop when the valves in the veins stop working properly, causing the veins to swell. About one in three people have varicose veins by the time they reach retirement age, with women more affected than men. In most people they do not present a serious health problem, but in severe cases they can cause pain, itching, swelling or ulcers on the feet.

Patients who need treatment often undergo surgery to remove the affected vein. Under general anesthesia, the vein is tied through an incision in the groin and pulled out with a wire passed through an incision lower in the leg. 36,209 varicose vein operations are performed on the NHS each year.

In the last decade, new non-surgical treatments have been introduced that cause less scarring and do not require general anesthesia. Intravenous laser ablation (EVLA) involves a laser wire, inserted into the vein through a catheter, that delivers short bursts of energy that seal the vein closed. It is usually performed under local anesthesia. Foam sclerotherapy involves injecting foam into the vein which inflames the lining of the wall and seals the vessel.

The new study compared these two treatments in terms of patient benefit and cost. One hundred patients were randomly assigned to laser or foam treatment. The two treatments were found to be equally successful in closing the varicose veins. However, foam treatment procedures were more than twice as fast and cost four times less than laser treatment on average. Foam-treated patients experienced less pain in the week after treatment and could return to normal activity in three days, compared to eight days for laser-treated patients.

Mr. Christopher Lattimerfrom Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, said: “This is the first time anyone in the NHS has compared foam and laser treatments to see which is better value for money. We found that the cost of the foam was only a quarter of the cost of the laser, considering their efficiency. Foam therapy was also quicker, less painful and got people back to their normal activity in a shorter amount of time.”

Mr. Georgios Geroulakosfrom Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, said: “Because varicose veins are so common, the NHS has to spend a lot of money on treatments every year. If more people were treated with foam injections instead of surgery or laser treatment, the potential savings could be huge. This kind of research is extremely important at a time when budgets are under such pressure.”

The number of patients receiving these treatments is increasing every year, with the NHS performing 6,327 foam procedures and 6,005 EVLA procedures in England in 2009-10.

Closing the veins close to the skin does not affect circulation as blood can return to the heart through the larger veins in the leg.

The research was funded by Ealing Hospital NHS Trust and STD Pharmaceuticals.

For more information contact:

Sam Wong
Head of Research Media
Imperial College London
Email: sam.wong@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)20 7594 2198
Out of hours press officer: +44(0)7803 886 248

Notes to editors:

1. CR Lattimer et al. “Cost and effectiveness of laser phlebectomy versus foam sclerotherapy in superficial venous insufficiency. Early results of a randomized controlled trial.’ European Society for Vascular Surgery, Athens 2011.

2. About Imperial College London

Consistently ranked among the world’s best universities, Imperial College London is an academic institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international standard. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, providing practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment – supported by a dynamic entrepreneurial culture.

Since its founding in 1907, Imperial’s contributions to society include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography, and the foundations of optical fibers. This commitment to applying research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, address climate change, develop sustainable energy sources, and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK’s first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique collaboration aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new treatments as quickly as possible.

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