1472 – Cyanoacrylate embolisation for the treatment of varicose veins due to chronic venous insufficiency

New MBS item.

Cyanoacrylate embolisation (CAE) is a minimally invasive, non-thermal, non-tumescent treatment for varicose veins. CAE is designed as a single use therapeutic intervention, delivered as a single course of treatment per affected leg to emobolise the great saphenous vein (GSV) by means of medical adhesive.

Vein occlusion is achieved by using an ultrasound guided disposable catheter positioned in the area of treatment and then a catheter-administered cyanoacrylate adhesive is injected into the vein to achieve closure. A single small bandage is applied to the catheter entry site and venous occlusion is confirmed by duplex ultrasound.

Type: Therapeutic

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a disorder that impairs blood flow back to the heart from the legs. Pathophysiological abnormalities present in CVI include incompetent venous valves and loss of structural strength in the walls, resulting in increased intravascular pressure into veins that are intended to function as a low pressure system. Increased pressure causes backflow of blood, or venous reflux, resulting in pooling of blood in the legs. These subcutaneous veins commonly occurring in the legs are called varicose veins.

Lower limb varicose veins are a common disease affecting adults. If chronic and untreated, the associated venous insufficiency can progress to significant morbidity including pain, oedema, fatigue and limb swelling, thrombophlebitis, bleeding and skin ulceration.

• PASC meeting: -
• ESC meeting: 8 June 2017
• MSAC meeting: 27 July 2017