Laser ablation how does it work

They may be uncomfortable and result in swelling of the legs. If left untreated, varicose veins may lead to more serious medical problems, such as phlebitis swelling and inflammation of a vein or leg ulcers. Here, Angela A. Kokkosis, MD , assistant professor of surgery Vascular Surgery Division who practices at the Stony Brook Vein Center , answers questions about endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins. Kokkosis and her vascular colleagues also offer free screenings at the Vein Center to discuss these and other related questions; see contact info below.

A: Endovenous ablation is a treatment for closing the saphenous vein in the leg, which is typically the main superficial vein associated with varicose veins. This treatment can be performed with either laser or radiofrequency RF technology. A: A thin catheter flexible tube is inserted into the vein through a tiny skin puncture, and the entire length of the vein is treated with laser or radiofrequency through the catheter, thus "injuring" the vein's wall.

This causes the veins to close and eventually turn into scar tissue. By treating the saphenous vein, it also helps the visible varicose veins regress. At the Stony Brook Vein Center, we use the latest technology to treat varicose veins with endovenous ablation, and we also are leaders in using minimally invasive treatments. Sclerotherapy involves the injection of a specially-developed solution Sotradecol into the varicose vein. The solution then hardens, causing the vein to close up or collapse.

Without surgery, the seizures could spread to other parts of the brain. If the seizures spread, it can be harder to treat epilepsy with surgery. Your epileptologist will continue to monitor your child and reassess medication within two years after surgery. If your child is seizure-free after one year, your neurologist will discuss with you whether changes can be made in the seizure medication dosages. Twitter Facebook Linked In Email.

Our commitment to keeping you safe We have never taken for granted the sacred trust you place in us to care for your child, and today we are more grateful than ever for that privilege. Learn More about our commitment to keeping you safe. Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery Laser ablation is a minimally invasive brain surgery, which means children can recover and get back to normal activities much faster than with traditional brain surgery.

What is Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery? How does Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery work? What are the benefits of Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery?

This approach has many benefits, including: Quick recovery. In contrast, traditional brain surgery usually requires three to five days in the ICU following surgery and a much longer healing time. Pinpointed treatment. Laser ablation surgery is extremely precise, which means we can safely address brain tumors or parts of the brain causing epilepsy, with minimal impact on other parts of the brain.

Accessible to more children. Because the laser is so precise, the neurosurgeon can reach parts of the brain that were otherwise impossible to operate on. This enables more children to get the treatment they need. What are the side effects of Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery? What are the risks of Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery? What to expect with Pediatric Laser Ablation Surgery? What to expect before laser ablation?

In FLA, a laser optic fiber is inserted into the target area. When the laser energy reaches the tip of the thin fiber, the tissue begins to heat. The heat has a limited penetration depth, creating a globe-shaped area that is monitored on MRI for size, shape and precise temperature as it encompasses the planned volume of tissue.

This area is confirmed on MRI before the laser fiber is withdrawn. What is left is called necrotic dead tissue. Over time, much of it is simply reabsorbed by the body and eventually excreted as waste. As this scar tissue is reduced, it has the effect of somewhat shrinking the volume of prostate itself. Once again taking a peek back in time, the ideal of focal therapy for prostate cancer is quite recent. In the late s, a handful of U. These doctors were scorned as irresponsible by the vast majority of urologists who had long believed that prostate cancer is a multifocal disease.

They assumed that a focal ablation could not help but leave microscopic cancer cells behind, like a ticking time bomb that would eventually kill the patient. Bursting the bubble of belief about multifocal cancer paved the way to legitimize focal therapy for properly qualified patients, and it is now universally recognized as a legitimate option—for the right patient, of course! It is not surprising, then, that so many energy sources and delivery methods have been, and continue to be, developed in order to do focal therapy for unifocal prostate cancer.

Regardless of the method, focal treatment is thankfully here to stay, with its competitive cancer control and high quality of life. For the Sperling Prostate Center, the choice of laser is a no-brainer.