New approaches for the treatment of varicose veins.

New, minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of varicose veins including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), and transilluminated power phlebectomy (TIPP) represent effective and possibly superior alternatives to traditional saphenous vein stripping and stab avulsion of varicose veins. Further experience with these procedures will help to determine which ones will become the method of choice for treating this complex disease process. Some of these new techniques may not prove to be effective in the hands of all treating specialists. However,it is very likely that some of these techniques, such as foam sclerotherapy and RFA, will replace the procedures that we currently use today.