ELVeS Radial at the certified Vein Competence Center with Dr. Woitalla-Bruning

1. What is the range of treatments offered at Tabea Hospital?

Tabea Hospital is a certified Vein Competence Center. We offer the complete range of treatments, including various therapies for varicose veins and their consequences such as leg ulcers and thrombosis. These include compression therapy, sclerotherapy, the classical stripping procedure, as well as endothermal procedures, such as endovenous laser therapy.

2. When thinking about vein disorders, varicose veins come to mind first. How do they develop?

Varicose veins are primarily a genetic issue. Other risk factors for the development of varicose veins include female gender, pregnancies, standing and sitting occupations, as well as obesity. A healthy vein functions to transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart. It does this with the help of the calf muscle pump. To prevent the blood from pooling back downwards due to gravity during the relaxation phase, the vein has valves. These function like a type of check valve. If these valves are defective and do not close properly, the blood pools in the legs. Superficially located veins can then swell and often appear bluish-violet and twisted on the legs. The result: The blood can no longer be properly transported back towards the heart in this vein. A varicose vein develops.

3. What is meant by laser therapy?

Laser therapy is an endovenous treatment procedure. We differentiate between chemical and endothermal procedures among the new endovenous methods. Laser therapy belongs to the endothermal procedures. Here, a laser probe is inserted into the defective vessel using a catheter and then heated from the inside with the help of energy (light) and thus closed. Unlike the stripping procedure, the vein remains in the leg and the body gradually breaks it down over the coming months.

4. What advantage does the use of ELVeS® Radial® 2Ring offer?

The Radial 2Ring fiber has the clear advantage of having 2 light exits at the tip, allowing it to treat the vessel with energy twice. Additionally, the Radial 2Ring fiber emits evenly in a ring shape outward, not like older laser probes, which emitted forward like a flashlight. This has the advantage that we can precisely close the damaged superficial vein at the transition to the deep venous system and do not have to leave a long stump as before. We know today that a long remaining stump poses an increased risk for the recurrence of varicose veins. Therefore, this should be avoided in therapy.

5. How is the cost coverage arranged in this case?

All private patients are generally allowed an endovenous therapy in the form of laser therapy, which is financially covered by their insurance. Additionally, Tabea Hospital has IV (integrated care) contracts with several company health insurance funds, which also cover the costs for endovenous laser therapy. Tabea Hospital also has a special contract with Barmer health insurance, whose insured members are also reimbursed for the therapy at our facility. All endovenous therapies are generally outpatient procedures that can be well performed under tumescent local anesthesia (a special local anesthesia procedure). General anesthesia is not necessary, but can be provided upon request. Due to sometimes long travel times or lack of patient care at home, Tabea Hospital offers a free overnight stay upon request after the treatment.