Laser therapy
Intravenous laser therapy Lugano
Laser light applied in the bloodstream with a dedicated catheter, to stimulate circulating cells. It is not endovenous laser for varicose veins (EVLA).
- A catheter in the blood, light on circulating blood
- A technique in use in Germany since 2005
- Indication after a specialist visit, not a disease list
How it is applied
The catheter
A catheter technique takes laser light into the bloodstream. The aim stated at the practice is to stimulate circulating blood cells.
Since when it exists
The technique has been in use in Germany since 2005 and is adopted by clinics and practices today. The scientific sources are at the end of this page and on the Laser therapy page.
What it is not
It is not EVLA for varicose veins. It is not a list of internal, metabolic or neurological diseases routinely treated with this technique alone.
Intra-articular laser
Light in the blood is a different route from the catheter in a joint. That technique is on the intra-articular page.
In the blood
Light on circulating blood
The catheter takes the light into the bloodstream. The technique has been in use in Germany since 2005 and is adopted by clinics and practices today.
It is not EVLA for varicose veins, nor a routine treatment for internal, metabolic or neurological diseases: the indication is assessed at the visit, case by case.
When it is assessed
Invasive laser pathway
The visit discusses whether application in the blood is indicated, together with the other laser modes (local, intra-articular, interstitial).
Combinations
Laser and PRP, laser and acupuncture, laser and ultrasound-guided injections are combinations in current use at the practice when there is an indication.
What we do not promise
We do not present diabetes, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration or Lyme disease as proven indications of this technique: there are no studies with a DOI to support it.
Note
In invasive applications local anaesthetic is used at the entry point. The contraindications, listed on the Laser therapy page, are checked at the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the laser for varicose veins?
No. Here the light acts on circulating blood at the practice, not on varicose veins.
Is it painful?
Local anaesthetic is used at the catheter entry point.
How many sessions are needed?
The number of sessions is decided with you at the visit, according to the complaint and how you respond to treatment.
Is it covered by insurance?
The practice is RME certified and, in Ticino, bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Navratil L, Kymplova J. Contraindications in noninvasive laser therapy: truth and fiction. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2002;20:341–343. doi:10.1089/104454702320901134
More sources on the page Laser therapy.
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Laser therapy.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess intravenous laser together
Indication and mode are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso, and is easy to reach from Italy, Milan, Como, Varese and Lombardy by car and by train.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday and Wednesday 08:00–16:30
Friday 08:00–13:30