The Venefit™ procedure is a minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) in which a vein specialist inserts a Covidien ClosureFast™ Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) Catheter to collapse and close enlarged leg veins. After the vein is sealed shut, blood then naturally re-routes to healthy veins.

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The Venefit Procedure: What to Expect

The ClosureFast™ catheter is inserted into the vein through a tiny incision below the knee. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the physician treats a 7 cm segment of vein with a 20-second burst of radiofrequency energy, causing the vessel to shrink around the catheter. The physician withdraws the catheter, treating each segment until the entire length of the vein has been sealed. An average 45 cm length vein can be treated in this manner in just three to five minutes.

Unlike painful vein stripping surgery or laser ablation, the catheter delivers uniform, consistent heat to each segment and temperatures do not exceed 120°C.1 As a result, the Venefit procedure causes less bruising and allows for rapid patient relief and recovery.2 The Venefit procedure is commonly performed in an office or an outpatient setting and is covered by most health insurance in the United States and in several countries in Europe.

The Venefit Procedure Advantage:

Minimally Invasive

The Venefit procedure eliminates the need for groin surgery and general anesthesia. The procedure also results in little to no scarring and is generally performed using local anesthesia in a vein specialist’s office or an outpatient surgical facility.

Less Pain, Less Bruising, Faster Recovery 2

The 2009 RECOVERY Study compared the experience of patients treated with the ClosureFast catheter and those treated with the 980 nm laser. The study demonstrated:

  • Less pain, bruising and complications with the ClosureFast catheter2
  • Up to four times faster improvement in patients’ quality of life with ClosureFast catheter versus laser based on a quality of life questionnaire2

Other studies have shown that patients receiving the Venefit procedure return to normal activity and work significantly faster than those undergoing vein stripping.3

Excellent Clinical Outcomes

The ClosureFast catheter has been shown in a prospective, international multi-center study to be 93% effective at three years using Kaplan Meier analysis.4

The Venefit procedure is performed as a medical necessity as diagnosed by a trained vein specialist. It is not designed to address spider veins or cosmetic issues. However, the successful treatment of CVI using the Venefit procedure can produce cosmetic improvements. As with any medical procedure, you should consult your vein specialist and review all safety information associated with any procedure.

  1. Weiss RA, et al. Comparison of endovenous radiofrequency versus 10 nm diode laser occlusion of large veins in an animal model. Dermotol Surgery 2002;28:56-61. The study utilized a 980 nm laser.
  2. Almeida JI, Kaufman J, Göckeritz O, et al. Radiofrequency endovenous ClosureFast versus laser ablation for the treatment of great saphenous reflux: a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized study (RECOVERY Study). J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2009;20:752-759.
  3. Lurie, F, et al. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (Closure procedure) versus ligation and stripping in a selected patient population (EVOLVeS Study), J Vasc Surg 2003; 38(2):207-14.
  4. Proebstle T, et al. Three-year European follow-up of endovenous radiofrequency-powered segmental thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein with or without treatment of calf varicosities. JVS; July 2011.