Endovenous Chemical Ablation Trial (EVCA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A randomised clinical trial comparing standard cannula delivered foam sclerotherapy, catheter directed foam sclerotherapy and ClariVein® mechanochemical ablation in the management of superficial venous insufficiency.
IRAS ID
114088
Contact name
Ian Chetter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals
Research summary
Varicose veins are a very common problem in the adult population of the UK. Varicose veins are caused by leaky valves in the vein which causes veins to become baggy and swollen. Varicose veins cause problems such as pain, bleeding and may turn into an ulcer, an area where the skin has fallen away and become infected.
The old treatment of varicose veins is to pull the veins out from a cut in the groin or in the leg. Although this treatment can reduce the symptoms, people find it painful and may have unintended problems such as bleeding and infection. Newer treatments use key-hole techniques to deliver high energy inside the vein which destroys it and reduces symptoms. People prefer this treatment because it is very successful and doesn’t have the problems of surgery. However for it to be safe, a large volume of anaesthetic needs to be injected into the leg, which is discomforting and time consuming.
The injection of a chemical drug to destroy varicose veins has been used successfully for decades, but two newer methods have been developed which may be as good as the heat techniques. One uses a long tube to deliver the chemical directly to the vein area to be treated, the other uses a long spinning wire while injecting a chemical drug to destroy the vein. All three procedures are quick key-hole techniques and importantly are in principal painless.
We intend to see if these techniques work in closing varicose veins and if possible which one is better.
Patients with symptomatic varicose veins and would like treatment would be invited to take part in our study. Participants will be randomly allocated to a treatment group of equal sizes. Participants will be assessed for treatment success, pain, satisfaction and their quality of life
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/YH/0169
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion