“What can go wrong with radiofrequency ablation?”
I have varicose veins and will have radiofrequency ablation. I am afraid. What can go wrong with radiofrequency ablation?
3 Answers
If done correctly, almost nothing. Pain in the saphenous vein for a few weeks, phlebitis in varicose veins, both which resolve in a few weeks. Worse complication is a DVT, blood clot in deep veins. It is rare for an experienced surgeon
96%-98% of the time, radio frequency ablation is safe without any complications. Around 2%-5% may have some complications such as deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), skin damage like burn from inside, rarely infection and very rare injuries to other structures such as nerves or arteries. Overall, very safe procedure.
Good luck!
Umashankar Ballehaninna
Good luck!
Umashankar Ballehaninna
Good question.
So, RF ablation is the process of destroying the function of a varicose vein using heat. The procedure requires that a patient is supine and lying down. The surgeon inserts a needle and wire into the furthest down area of the varicose vein to be ablated. Then, the surgeon injects local anesthetic around the vein. Followed by heat treatment of the entire vein segment. The problems with the procedure begin with needle access to the vein. Sometimes it is difficult to access the vein. This happens rarely. The next issue is with injecting local. It’s possible to inject the vein itself. This can cause cardiac issues. The next is heating the vein. If the catheter is beyond the saphenous vein junction to the femoral vein, then you will heat scar the femoral vein. That can cause femoral vein thrombosis, which may be difficult to treat. Catheter insertion into the artery has been described. Ablation of the artery is a disaster, and generally will require immediate femoral bypass surgery. Next is the likelihood that saphenous vein ablation doesn’t work. This is very uncommon. Next is skin burning. If there isn’t enough local anesthetic to maintain a heat sink between the vein and the skin, the skin may burn. It causes pain and deformity. Lastly is the risk of deep vein thrombosis. It is generally accepted that 1% of people will develop DVT with vein ablation.
So, RF ablation is the process of destroying the function of a varicose vein using heat. The procedure requires that a patient is supine and lying down. The surgeon inserts a needle and wire into the furthest down area of the varicose vein to be ablated. Then, the surgeon injects local anesthetic around the vein. Followed by heat treatment of the entire vein segment. The problems with the procedure begin with needle access to the vein. Sometimes it is difficult to access the vein. This happens rarely. The next issue is with injecting local. It’s possible to inject the vein itself. This can cause cardiac issues. The next is heating the vein. If the catheter is beyond the saphenous vein junction to the femoral vein, then you will heat scar the femoral vein. That can cause femoral vein thrombosis, which may be difficult to treat. Catheter insertion into the artery has been described. Ablation of the artery is a disaster, and generally will require immediate femoral bypass surgery. Next is the likelihood that saphenous vein ablation doesn’t work. This is very uncommon. Next is skin burning. If there isn’t enough local anesthetic to maintain a heat sink between the vein and the skin, the skin may burn. It causes pain and deformity. Lastly is the risk of deep vein thrombosis. It is generally accepted that 1% of people will develop DVT with vein ablation.
