Focus On Health & Fitness
VARICOSE VEINS
The Latest Treatments
Mr Mark Whiteley MS FRCS (Gen) discusses the innovative, minimally invasive, procedures he has developed over ten years.
One in four of the population suffers from varicose veins and there are many reasons to get them treated. For some people, it is purely to try to make the legs look better. For a great many others, it is to reduce thread veins, aching or itching of legs, swelling of ankles, or prevention of clots and ulcers.
Whatever the reason, using the latest techniques for treating varicose veins can allow true 'walk in walk out surgery' under local anaesthetic – with much reduced risk of complications or recurrent veins in the future, compared to the normal 'stripping' operation.
In March 1999 Mark Whiteley, consultant surgeon at the Whiteley Clinic, introduced the new 'keyhole' or 'pinhole' surgery for varicose veins into the UK, performing the first operation in Guildford. Mark and his team have continued developing the techniques, keeping The Whiteley Clinic at the forefront of vein treatments not only in the UK, but also in the world. Their research has shown that by using ultrasound to guide the surgery, all kinds of vein conditions can be treated under local anaesthetic, with any incision being no larger than 2 to 3mm.
The first technique that Mark and his team introduced to the UK was the VNUS Closure. This procedure has now been widely publicised over the last two years as other surgeons have started taking advantage of the innovation. However, the specialists at The Whiteley Clinic have been developing their techniques (often called EVLA or endovenous laser ablation) using several types of laser to obtain the very best results, and are now getting some very impressive results with almost no pain at all, using a new technique called RFiTT.
Mark Whiteley says "The world of varicose vein surgery has become very exciting over the last decade, with new and improved techniques being developed every few months. At The Whiteley Clinic we are very proud to be at the forefront of these developments, having won several prizes for our research, invented the TRLOP procedure used on some patients with varicose veins, and being a champion of the pelvic vein embolisation, which not only helps ladies with leg varicose veins but can also cure pelvic congestion syndrome and varicose veins of the vagina and vulva."
Renowned specialists in all venous conditions, over a third of the patients treated by The Whiteley Clinic are those who have received treatment elsewhere but their vein problems have recurred.
Now more surgeons are starting to learn the basics of some of these advanced techniques and The Whiteley Clinic runs regular teaching courses for doctors or nurses who want to improve the care of their patients with varicose veins and thread veins.
Mark Whiteley continued "It is important to us that we give our patients not only the very best care possible, but that we share our knowledge with other doctors to try to help them follow us into providing excellence with these new techniques. With almost 11 years experience, having performed these techniques longer than anyone else in the UK and having been involved in the research and development of vein treatments throughout this time, our understanding in this area is second to none."
To find out more contact
The Whiteley Clinic
Stirling House Stirling Road
Guildford Surrey GU2 7RF
Tel +44 (0)1483 477 180
info@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk
www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk
