That bluish network under the skin, so prominent on bare legs, especially in the summer, isn’t just a cosmetic issue. It’s a sign of a circulatory system disorder characterized by the permanent dilation of blood vessels. These are varicose veins, also known as spider veins, a condition that primarily—but not exclusively—affects the veins of the lower limbs and can cause pain and, in severe cases, lead to circulatory complications. Until now, this problem has been treated with invasive surgical procedures, but it can now be managed without incisions, without drugs, and, most importantly, without destroying the venous structures essential for circulation. A therapeutic revolution based on ultrasound.
The numbers and risk factors
Epidemiological data demonstrate the extent of this health problem. The estimated prevalence in Italy ranges from 15-25% in men and reaches 25-40% in women, with percentages that increase significantly with age. Family history plays a significant role among risk factors, as does a sedentary lifestyle and the need to stand for long periods. Varicose veins form when the leg veins, which are responsible for carrying blood from peripheral tissues to the heart, lose their elasticity, creating blood pooling.
The turning point: preserving rather than destroying
Until now, the traditional therapeutic approach has relied primarily on destructive surgery, eliminating the affected veins, including the saphenous veins. However, this strategy, far from being curative, has often proven counterproductive, causing vascular decompensation and recurrences in over 50% of treated cases. For this reason, today, we are seeking systems that guarantee the preservation of venous drainage, even improving it. This is the direction taken by HIFU (High Focused Ultrasound), better known as ecotherapy.
Ecotherapy: The future is already here
HIFU technology, implemented through the SonoVein® device, allows for completely non-invasive intervention on areas of venous reflux, targeting only critical points, without incisions or drug injections, but only with ultrasound, with no side effects. The robotic treatment is performed on an outpatient basis, requiring no hospital stay and allowing the patient to return to normal activities the same day as the procedure. The Ippocrate Vein Clinic in Parma owns the first and currently only SonoVein® device in Italy, with over 500 cases already successfully treated. “We are the group that has conducted the most procedures with this system in Europe,” confirms Paolo Casoni, former professor of General Surgery at the University of Parma and now Medical Director of the Ippocrate Vein Clinic, “and we are already planning the arrival of a second device in Italy.” The advantages of the new method are clear: “HIFU has a conservative approach: with ultrasound, we can either close the offending vessel or simply narrow its lumen, thus maintaining the venous system intact. No other technique, be it laser, surgery, or radiofrequency, allows us to preserve hemodynamic volume.”
Perfect Integration
Completing the therapeutic package is sclerosing foam, which is prepared with the Varixio system for more consistent standardization. Combined use with SonoVein allows for outpatient treatment of over 95% of lower limb varicose veins, including complex cases in compromised or fragile patients. From a cosmetic perspective, it also allows young patients to resolve the problem without interrupting their work activities. The future goal is to develop, through close collaboration between industry, technology, and specialists, increasingly smart devices that can be used on a large scale.
(read on Salute: star bene secondo la scienza – www.salute.eu)
