Vein, vein go away

A British company is hoping to market a procedure called Varisolve that
eliminates varicose veins without surgery. Instead of extracting it through a
cut in the patient’s groin, doctors “kill” the offending vein by filling it with
an injectible foam. The foam’s ingredients cause spasms which collapse the vein,
after which it gradually disappears. Made by Provensis, the foam shows up on
ultrasound, so doctors can monitor the procedure to check it has worked. “I
think it has the potential to be a substantial breakthrough,” says Charles
McCollum of the South Manchester University Hospitals, who tested the procedure
on 21…