VNUS Closure is a new technique for treating varicose veins. It is also called "Radio-frequency Ablation of Varicose Veins" and it was approved by NICE (UK National Institute of Clinical Excellence) on the 24th September 2003. The Whiteley Clinic pioneered the technique of VNUS Closure and extensive experience after treating over 1,500 legs has enabled The Clinic to obtain the best results. In an article soon to be published in the Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons The Whiteley Clinic's data are presented and show that VNUS Closure patients experience impressively less pain, a five times quicker return-to-work rate, excellent cosmetic results and most importantly, after three years, five to ten times less chance of recurrence when compared to traditional high tie and strip surgery.

How is VNUS Closure different from traditional surgery?
Traditional surgery for varicose veins involves a groin incision, trying and stripping the veins - leading to pain and bruising. In addition, the trauma of this approach stimulates the ends of the veins to grow back again (neovascularisation).
There is no groin incision or vein stripping in VNUS Closure. A fine catheter is passed up the vein under Duplex Ultrasound guidance. The Ultrasound guidance ensures that only the correct vein is treated. The end of the catheter is opened and the vein wall heated to 85(C permanently shrinking and destroying the vein.
We have found that our patients experience:
* About 10 times less pain
* 5 times faster return to normal activity
* A much better cosmetic result
* 5 to 10 times fewer recurrences at three years.

Does VNUS Closure have to be done under a General Anaesthetic?
The simple answer is yes - but it is important to note two facts:
Firstly, we developed the technique using a light general anaesthetic so that the veins are treated as accurately as possible - hence our results show higher success rates than those using local anaesthetic techniques.
Secondly, the type of general anaesthesia used by our expert anaesthetists is really only like heavy sedation compared to that used for other conditions.

Who does VNUS Closure?
The Whiteley Clinic pioneered and developed the technique of VNUS Closure starting in 1999. All four Consultant Vascular Surgeons in The Clinic perform the technique to the same exacting standards and results are continually assessed by very careful ongoing audit which is presented and discussed in scientific forums and published in the scientific literature.