What is VenaSeal?
VenaSealTM is a relatively new vein closure technique offered by Medtronic. It was first approved in 2015 by the FDA. It uses a chemical sealant called cyanoacrylate, which has been used to close human vessels for several other diseases. Medtronic specially formulated cyanoacrylate to be used in treating varicose vein-related disorders.
How does VenaSeal work?
Cyanoacrylate, or frequently referred to as “glue” by patients and medical professionals alike, acts very much like caulk or hobby glue. The medication is originally in a thick liquid form, but when it gets into contact with blood, it polymerizes and becomes a solid-like consistency. This material seals up the vein and prevents further abnormal blood flow.
Who is VenaSeal for and how effective is it?
VenaSeal may be chosen by your physician as the treatment of choice if you are diagnosed with saphenous vein insufficiency, and that your anatomy is suitable for this treatment method. When properly performed, VenaSeal boasts 95% success closure rate at 5 years based on large clinical studies1. This success rate is very similar to other treatment techniques, including laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation.
How is VenaSeal done?
VenaSeal is an office-based procedure that involves in placing a delivery catheter in the leg vein that is to be treated. The delivery catheter, which is basically a large IV, is carefully positioned by the physician under ultrasound guidance. The VenaSeal then delivers the medication into the vein, thus closing the vein.
Because the entire procedure is done with essentially just a needle entry through the skin, patient discomfort is quite minimal. As such, most patients have this done with just a small amount of local anesthetic at the needle puncture site. Oral sedation or anesthesia is almost never used.
What is the advantage of VenaSeal over other vein closure techniques?
Because VenaSeal uses a glue medication, rather than heat, to close the vein, there is no risk for heat damage to the skin or other surrounding structures. This makes precautions such as tumescence injection unnecessary, thus making this procedure more comfortable for the patient.
What are the disadvantages of VenaSeal?
VenaSeal uses cyanoacrylate to close the vein, which fundamentally is a medication that is injected into the body. As with any medication, there is always a risk of adverse reaction or allergy. A large, single-center study found that there is combined adverse reaction and allergy rate of approximately 6% 2. Fortunately, most reactions are local inflammation at the treated vein and is mild and self-limiting. Few than 1% of the cases involved full-body allergy.
However, it is important to tell your physician if you have a history of vascular glue procedure and if there was any unwanted reactions prior to getting VenaSeal. If you develop localized redness, swelling, or pain, you are likely experiencing mild local reaction. While it is usually not a cause for concern, please contact our office so that we may help monitor and treat the symptoms. If you developed full body rash, swelling in the face or body, difficulty breathing, or severe limb pain, please seek emergency care right away as it may be a serious allergic reaction.
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Medtronic VenaSealTM closure system. Link to product page.
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Gibson K, Minjarez R, Rinehardt E, Ferris B. Frequency and severity of hypersensitivity reactions in patients after VenaSealTM cyanoacrylate treatment of superficial venous insufficiency. Phlebology. 2020;35(5):337-344. Link to publication.