CHIVA is an ambulatory varicose veins treatment that can be applied in patients that prefer less invasive procedures. The treatment will be applied through small incisions, which will keep the veins away from the abnormal blood flow that causes the formation of varicose veins. Only local anesthesia is required.
CHIVA
CHIVA stands for Conservatrice et Hémodynamique de l'Insuffisance Veineuse en Ambulatoire, which is a paper that was published in the late 1980s. The paper is based on a study that has found that varicose veins are caused by venous system abnormalities.
CHIVA is also a treatment for varicose veins. The procedure can be performed as an outpatient treatment, which requires only local anesthesia. Four or more small incisions will be needed and the doctor will disconnect the affected veins from the blood flow that leads to the formation of varicose veins.
Unlike more complex varicose vein surgery, CHIVA will only leave small scars or the area may even heal with no scars, depending on the size of the incisions.
CHIVA Results
Patients that get the CHIVA procedure should experience an improvement of the function of the affected veins, leaving the more superficial veins intact, in case these will be needed for a leg artery bypass.
About 30 to 35 % of patients treated with CHIVA have been fully treated of varicose veins. The rest of patients may experience improvement, but the condition may be recurrent.
CHIVA is considered a procedure to remove varicose veins that is still being studied; consequently, some doctors will not use this procedure.
