Do you remember Super Glue? The super-fast setting glue was originally developed as a temporary wartime sealant for deep wounds. The glue would work effectively in wet areas and seal areas almost immediately resulting in almost minimal blood loss. Over time, the glue was quickly adapted for a variety of commercial reason, but it is still used in ERs as an emergency sealant.
Based on this glue, the VenaSeal glue system is now using a similar cyanoacrylate-based glue to close dilated veins with almost 90% accuracy. The process involves pumping a mixture of specially prepared cyanoacrylate compounds into the dilated veins while applying pressure on the veins from the outside. A catheter is used to pump the glue into the vein under ultrasound guidance. This helps the glue to settle into place and the dilated veins are sealed almost immediately. The entire process takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes and is usually completed under local anesthesia.
Benefits:
Studies show an almost 98% to 100% sealing of all dilated vessels. The effects are instantaneous. Complete closure of vessels is seen in long-term follow-ups with absence of recanalization and improvement in symptoms. Patients have also reported improvement in quality of life and decrease in symptoms. The entire procedure can be completed in about 40 minutes and results in minimal postoperative pain. After the procedure, patients require a day’s rest and must keep the leg elevated. No scars are seen post-procedure and minimal skin pigmentation is seen. Patients usually recover within a day.
Drawback:
The long-term effect of using cyanoacrylate glue inside the body are not known. Some studies have also reported minor side-effects that do resolve with follow-up care. Allergies to the materials used, phlebitis, and pain have also been reported. Apart from the VenaSeal glue system, there are other multiple sealing systems also being used and they use the same kind of cyanoacrylate glue. Users have reported variable benefits with other sealant systems. Long term studies are ongoing to evaluate the effect of cyanoacrylate inside the body.
The bottom line
Varicose vein procedures are usually painful and result in long-term complications. Options like surgery, ligation and vein stripping, sclerotherapy, endovenous laser treatment, transilluminated powered phlebectomy, radiofrequency ablation, etc. are all painful long procedures that take a long time to heal. Having a simple sealant to do the job in 15 minutes is very effective and a huge relief to patients.
