To
Medical Editor
Anytown, USA.

A new varicose vein removal procedure AMBULATORY PHLEBECTOMY requires no hospitalization and is 1/6 the cost of the ubiquitous vein stripping.

Varicose veins affect 10-15% of our population and the majority (4:1 to 8:1) are women. Until recently they had just two available therapeutic options:

1. Having the veins stripped from the groin to the ankle in a hospital setting with the attendant risks of general anesthesia and and permanent scarring,

2. Spending several thousand dollars for multiple sclerotherapy injection sessions with a substantiated 60-100% failure rate in the first 5 years.

Now there is a new alternative - ambulatory phlebectomy - an office procedure that enables patients to return to normal daily activities, sporting activities included, the same day. The veins are removed through tiny (less than 1/8 of an inch) skin openings. No stitches are needed and no scars will be visible in 3-4 months.The $1,200-2,000 cost is less than the 20% co-payment a patient has to pay out of his pocket for the $14,000 in- hospital stripping. A local anesthetic and special surgical instruments are used.

Dr. Goren has operated on over 1700 patients in his office since 1990 with excellent results. Over 600 hundred surgeons from across America have been exposed to the procedure through the workshops he organizes in his office. He pioneered this European method in this country and his 1991 "American Journal of Surgery" article was the first in the U.S. surgical literature. His 7th and so far last article an the subject was printed in the July 1995 issue of the "Annals of Vascular Surgery".

A one year follow up of patients with large and unwanted hand veins removed with the same technique has had to date a 100% success rate.

If you would need additional information on this procedure, or on the failure of sclerotherapy please do not hesitate to contact me in person via e-mail, fax or phone.

Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely yours,

Gabriel Goren, M.D.


IN CONCLUSION:

Information on "ego/greed and phlebological politics."