Vein Glue | Doctors & Treatment Information

There are adhesives that are approved not only for home improvement and crafts, but also for medical applications.

One of the most commonly used adhesives is N-butyl 2-cyanoacrylate, often referred to simply as cyanoacrylate. This adhesive seals the tissue.

Typical uses include:

• Superficial cuts
• Surgical wounds from minor procedures
• Varicose veins

For this reason, cyanoacrylate is often colloquially referred to as “vein glue.” When precisely injected into dilated veins (varicose veins), it permanently seals them.

Cyanoacrylate is an adhesive that permanently bonds tissue together. It is suitable for severely dilated veins with a diameter of up to about 8 cm to achieve bonding.

Sclerotherapy agents, such as polidocanol, on the other hand, are active ingredients that induce inflammatory changes in the vessel wall.

Although this also causes the veins to adhere to one another, this method is only suitable for smaller veins such as spider veins.

In addition to its effectiveness in severely dilated veins, another advantage of cyanoacrylate is that it does not cause an inflammatory reaction.

Cyanoacrylate has been on the market since 1958 as so-called “superglue.” In the meantime, it has also been used in spray form in war zones (the Vietnam War) to quickly stop acute bleeding.

In addition, cyanoacrylate has revolutionized forensic science, as it forms the basis for fingerprinting.

Cyanoacrylate has been approved for the treatment of varicose veins since 2011. Its use has been increasing ever since.

This is an endoluminal procedure for treating varicose veins. “Endoluminal” means “from the inside.”

In traditional surgery (vein stripping), complete removal of the diseased vein is necessary. In endoluminal procedures, however, the vein is sealed from the inside.

Vein sealing with cyanoacrylate is an endoluminal procedure for treating varicose veins. Endoluminal means “treatment of the vein from the inside.”

In a surgical procedure (vein stripping), doctors must expose the abnormally dilated vein from the outside and remove it completely.

Laser and radiofrequency therapy are also endoluminal procedures. While the application of the adhesive is a chemical process, laser and radiofrequency therapy involve the application of heat. They are therefore also referred to as thermal procedures.

Thermal procedures generate heat that damages the skin and surrounding soft tissue.

For this reason, doctors must inject a cooling fluid around the treated vein during these procedures. Nevertheless, burns to the skin and soft tissue can still occur.

These side effects do not occur with chemical treatment using glue. However, doctors must inject the glue into the vein quickly using a special catheter.

This is done using a special device called the VenaSeal Closure System. That is why it is also known as the VenaSeal procedure.

The VenaSeal Closure System is a specialized medical device consisting of long catheters and several pressure syringes.

Using the syringe, the doctor administers the adhesive quickly and under pressure into the vein. This creates compression from the outside.

With this procedure, the patient does not require anesthesia or other medications. Anesthesia is administered only at the puncture site.

In some cases, several guide wires and an ultrasound device are used as aids. These facilitate the insertion of the catheter and its correct placement within the vein.

VenaSeal is used for varicose veins that the patient wishes to have removed in a minimally invasive manner. The vein sealant is suitable for patients who want to return to work or their sports activities quickly.

This is also its major advantage: The patient is usually back to normal activities immediately. The procedure takes about 20 minutes.

Since no medication is required before or after the treatment, recovery is very quick.

The VenaSeal method does not require general anesthesia. However, the patient receives a local anesthetic at the injection site.

At this point, the doctor then inserts the catheter into the diseased, dilated vein. He then uses a special device to inject the vein sealant into the vein.

The doctor then withdraws the catheter. The vein gradually seals itself.

Once the vein has sealed, the body gradually breaks down the tissue. In the initial period, it is advisable and recommended to wear compression stockings, which you should have fitted beforehand.

Wearing compression stockings is nothing new for patients with varicose veins. You’re already familiar with them.

The advantages of this treatment clearly lie in its gentle application. As mentioned earlier, the patient does not need to take any medication or have the treated area injected with a cooling solution.

This therapy protects against skin burns or nerve damage. Another advantage is the rapid recovery.

Shortly after the procedure, patients can resume their normal activities.

You do not need to take any medication after the treatment. A sick leave note is not required.

The benefits of VenaSeal treatment at a glance:

• Minimally invasive procedure
• No general anesthesia or extensive local anesthesia
• low risk of burns
• low risk of nerve damage
• Quick recovery—the patient is back to normal activities immediately

Normally, the VenaSeal treatment is free of bothersome side effects. The patient usually feels nothing other than the puncture for catheter insertion. The sensation is comparable to that of having blood drawn. 

However, the usual risks or complications may still occur.

These include, for example:

• a pulmonary embolism
• vascular perforations
• phlebitis
• bruising, or
• infections

Theoretically, however, these complications can also occur with normal injections or punctures.

No special follow-up care is necessary with this treatment method. However, you should have the treated vein checked regularly via ultrasound. This allows you to detect recurrences—that is, new varicose veins—at an early stage.