Using vein glue against varicose veins

The idea is not only to close diseased veins but also to immediately minimize their diameter. With very large diseased veins, the regression phase in conventional therapies is occasionally associated with discomfort (a feeling of tension or like sore muscles). Good gluing techniques could prevent this. So, it's all about comfort.

The first approved product (VenaSeal, Covidien) offers no practical advantages, as the success rates are only average, complaints do occur, the glue used takes years to decades to dissolve (plastic implant, acrylate glue), a set costs about €1,500—four times as much as a ClosureFast—and precisely the large veins that would benefit the most are not suitable for it.

The new gluing system VariClose (Biolas) provides fast and reliable vein closures. This system also uses acrylate glue but has several technical advantages and is nevertheless more affordable (about €1,000).

Attention, dear patients: Advertising often mentions special advantages, such as dispensing with compression stockings: these are unnecessary for deeper veins with all procedures (glue, laser, microfoam), and for external varicose veins, compression is always required—here the solution is not glue, but an invisible film dressing (Venartis C-Film, patent Dr. Ragg).

New procedures: IntraShape. It achieves the same effect as a glue, but without aggressive and difficult-to-degrade chemicals, available from late 2015. Another new procedure is ScleroGlue, the second-generation gluing technique. It will be available around 7/2016; we would be happy to keep you informed.

Important: If superficial varicose veins are present, compression is always needed, otherwise inflammation and discoloration will occur! Good news: There is a brilliant modern alternative; see, for example, the Case of the Month 8/2015.