10:31 PM PST on Friday, February 6, 2004

By JEAN ENERSEN / KING 5 News

SEATTLE - Varicose veins? You don't have to suffer anymore. A new procedure now being offered by two local hospitals promises quick and nearly painless results.

After a 10- to 12-hour shift on her feet, Nina Skrobecki feels it.

KING The non-invasive laser treatment now being offered in Seattle is called endovascular laser venous system (ELVS).

"My ankle will swell to two or three times its normal size, my calf will hurt, which makes it really hard to get through the day, on top of trying to exercise and things like that because it's a constant problem,” said Nina Skrobecki.

Like one in five adults, Nina suffers from varicose veins - those unsightly blue bulges caused when valves in the legs malfunction, forcing blood to pool and veins to become engorged. The solution used to be a major operation known as venous stripping, but Nina said “no thanks.”

“It's a very painful procedure and I have no desire to have that done that's why I've waited so long,” she said. “Finally I knew they'd come out with something someday.”

That something is a non-invasive laser treatment now being offered in Seattle. It's called endovascular laser venous system, or ELVS for short.

"It's just a much easier procedure for the patient to have done,” said Dr. Torrance Andrews, who has had it done himself.

For Nina, the entire procedure took less than 45 minutes from start to finish, with most of that time spent prepping the patient.

A tiny guide wire is inserted into the saphenous vein and threaded up the leg. Then, once the laser is flashed on, the big ropy veins disappear immediately and basically never come back.

Nina said she hardly felt a thing.

“I’m looking forward to being more mobile and getting out and exercising more, ‘cause after a long day, I had no desire to walk the dog or do anything like that,” she said. “So I'm hoping it will get a lot better.”

Her chances are very good. The procedure' s success rate is 97 percent, with most patients up and walking right away.

Many insurance companies will covere this procedure. However, not every patient is a good candidate.

To find out more,call Harborview Medical Center at 206-731-6862 or the University of Washington at 206-598-6209.