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Clinical results indicate that the Closure procedure can be effective at closing the vein and significantly reducing patient symptoms.

Patient Symptoms Reported at Follow-up(1)

Prior to the Closure procedure, 85% of patients reported leg pain. After the Closure procedure, 94% of patients at six weeks and 95% of patients at two years did not report residual leg pain.

Three randomized trials of the Closure procedure versus vein stripping, including the most recent multi-center comparative trial published August 2003 in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, show very similar results.(2),(3),(4) In the most recent trial every statistically significant outcome was in favor of the Closure procedure, resulting in(2):

• Return to normal activities within one day for 80.5% of Closure treated patients versus 46.9% of patients who underwent vein stripping surgery
• Less post-operative pain and limitation of physical activity
• Return to work 7.7 days sooner than vein stripping patients
• Higher quality of life scores than vein stripping

Typical Cosmetic Results: Before and After the Closure Procedure(5)

Pre-treatment Typical results 2 weeks post-Closure

Percent of Legs Without Varicose Veins at Follow-up
The Closure procedure may be as effective as vein stripping in delaying the reappearance of varicose veins.

(1) Weiss, R, et al. Controlled Radiogrequency Endovenous Occlusion Using a Unique Radiofrequency Catheter Under Duplex Guidance to Eliminate Saphenous Varicose Vein Reflux: A 2-Year Follow-up. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28:38-42.

(2) Lurie F, Creton D, Eklof B, Kabnick LS, Kistner RL, Pichot O, et al. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (Closure) versus ligation and stripping in a selected patient population (EVOLVES study). J Vasc Surg 2003;38:207-14.

(3) Stötter L. Schaaf I, Fendl R, Bockelbrink A. Randomized Study to Compare the Closure Procedure, Invagination Stripping and Cryo Stripping for Treatment of the Greater Saphenous Vein. Abstract submitted to German Society for Phlebology for presentation Sept. 2003.

(4) Rautio T, Ohinmaa A, Perälä J, Ohtonen P, Heikkinen T, Wiik H, et al. Endovenous obliteration versus conventional stripping operation in the treatment of primary varicose veins: A randomized controlled trial with comparison of costs. J Vasc Surg 2002;35:958-65.

(5) Photos Courtesy of Robert Merchant, M.D.

(6) Merchant RF, DePalma RG, Kabnick LS. Endovascular Obliteration of Saphenous Reflux: A Multicenter Study. J Vasc Surg 2002;35:1190-6.

(7) Jones L et al. Neovascularisation is the Principal Cause of Varicose Vein Recurrence: Results of a Randomized Trial Of Stripping The Long Saphenous Vein. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 1996;12:442-445