FRIDAY, Feb. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- The VenaSeal closure system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat superficial varicose veins in the leg that appear close to the skin and cause an unsightly and sometimes painful condition.
The product, administered by a trained professional, is designed to seal the affected veins, preventing the pooling of blood in these vessels. It was clinically evaluated in a study of more than 200 participants, comparing it to another treatment called radio-frequency ablation.
"The trials showed the device to be safe and effective for vein closure for the treatment of symptomatic superficial varicose veins of the legs," the FDA said Friday in a news release.
The VenaSeal system should not be used in people with a known sensitivity to the system's adhesive, or in those with inflamed veins due to blood clots or infection. The most common side effects included vein inflammation and burning and tingling in the treatment area, the agency said.
The VenaSeal system is manufactured by Covidien LLC, in Morrisville, N.C.
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