Clinical Research Directory

Safety of the Sonablate HIFU System for the Ablation of Incompetent Veins of the Periphery

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the Sonablate High Intensity Focused Ultrasound device can be safely used to treat patients with Chronic Venous Incompetence (CVI) including those with venous malformations of the periphery meaning legs, abdomen, chest or back. Examples of CVI are varicose veins, vascular congestion, venous ulcer, venous clusters, venous anomalies, mixed malformation, Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, CLOVES, Syndrome, Blue Rubber bleb Nevus Syndrome. HIFU is a non-invasive treatment as opposed to current treatment options which include incisions, needle penetration, wire insertions or catheter insertions.

Efficacy and Safety of Endovenous Ablation for Relief of Knee Pain in Elderly Patients With Lower Extremity Varicose Veins: A Prospective Observational Study

Lower extremity varicose veins (LEVV) are common among elderly patients and can cause leg heaviness, pain, and swelling. In some older adults, venous congestion may contribute to knee or peri-knee pain, which is often misattributed to degenerative joint disease alone. Evidence on whether varicose vein treatment can relieve knee pain in very elderly patients (aged 80 years or older) is limited. This prospective cohort study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovenous ablation (EVA) for improving knee pain in elderly patients with symptomatic varicose veins. The study will include participants aged 80 years or older who present with both lower extremity varicose veins and knee joint pain. Eligible patients will undergo endovenous thermal ablation (radiofrequency or endovenous laser ablation) as the primary intervention. Participants will be assessed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome is the change in knee pain intensity measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes include changes in knee joint function (assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index \[WOMAC\] or Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score \[KOOS\]), venous clinical severity score (VCSS), limb heaviness, quality of life (assessed by EQ-5D), and procedure-related complications. Safety will be evaluated by recording peri-procedural adverse events, including deep vein thrombosis, skin burns, nerve injury, and postoperative infection. The study will also analyze whether preexisting osteoarthritis, venous reflux severity, or body mass index (BMI) affect the magnitude of pain improvement. The hypothesis is that endovenous ablation improves knee pain in elderly patients by reducing venous congestion around the knee and improving venous return. This study will help clarify whether treating varicose veins can provide additional benefits for knee pain and mobility in patients aged 80 years and older.

Risks and Benefits of Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CEAP C3-C6) in Patients Aged 80 and Over

The prevalence of severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is significant in the growing octogenarian population. While radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a standard minimally invasive treatment, robust data on its outcomes and safety profiles specifically in patients aged 80 years and older remain scarce. This study aims to evaluate the risks and benefits of RFA in this specific, high-risk demographic.This prospective, single-arm, single-center cohort study will enroll 50 patients (initial target sample size) aged ≥80 years with CVI classified as CEAP C3 to C6 and with confirmed great or small saphenous vein reflux. All participants will undergo endovenous RFA under tumescent local anesthesia. The primary outcomes are: 1) the great/small saphenous vein occlusion rate at 6 months, assessed by duplex ultrasonography, and 2) the change in disease-specific quality of life from baseline to 6 months, measured by the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ). Secondary outcomes include occlusion rates at 1 and 3 months; complication rates (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, skin burns, paresthesia) within 30 days; and changes in the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) at predefined intervals over 6 months.This study is designed to demonstrate a high technical success rate (occlusion rate \>95% at 6 months) and a statistically significant improvement in AVVQ and VCSS scores at 6 months post-procedure. The collected data will provide a detailed profile of complication rates, characterizing the safety of RFA in this very elderly cohort.This study will provide crucial, prospective evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of RFA for treating CVI in octogenarians. The findings are expected to guide clinical decision-making and inform treatment guidelines for this vulnerable and expanding patient population.

Reducing Skin Tone Inequities in Chronic Venous Insufficiency

The aim of this project is to define assessment criteria for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in people with dark skin tones. It will inform future interventions and modifications to practice for the assessment of CVI in people with dark skin tones in a nurse led intervention to improve patient assessment. To achieve this there will be two parts to this study. 1. We will explore patient journeys and patient experiences of people with dark skin tones diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. From this we will learn from people with dark skin tones about how they recognised skin changes in their lower legs to further inform clinical assessment guidance and techniques. We will also listen to their patient journey to identify what areas worked well and what could be developed. This will help us plan how care could be improved for similar people. 2. We will record how skin changes look and feel in people with dark skin tones and known venous disease, and photograph this. We will consider whether some additional techniques used in practice to look and feel the skin is useful and whether changing the colour balance and manipulating the photographs is useful to see these skin changes.

Knee Pain Relief After Endovenous Treatment for Lower Limb Varicose Veins: A Prospective Observational Study

This study will observe patients with lower limb varicose veins who also have knee pain. Many patients with varicose veins experience swelling, heaviness, or aching in the legs, and some also report pain in or around the knee. Previous studies suggest that venous reflux and poor circulation may increase discomfort in the knee, especially when knee osteoarthritis is present. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether treatment of varicose veins with standard endovenous procedures can improve knee pain and function. Participants will undergo standard vein treatment as part of their clinical care. We will follow them for changes in knee pain, quality of life, and leg symptoms over time. This study does not assign patients to experimental interventions. Instead, it collects information before and after treatment to better understand the relationship between varicose veins and knee pain relief. Findings from this study may help doctors identify which patients are most likely to benefit from venous treatment in terms of both leg and knee symptoms.