title: [Endovenous treatment of primary varicose veins: an effective and safe therapeutic alternative to stripping?].
abstract: Endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) is a new, minimally invasive therapeutic option for treating primary varicose veins and provides an effective and safe alternative to conventional surgical management (stripping). Short-term and intermediate-term outcome is comparable to surgical stripping in terms of elimination of venous reflux (90 % - 98 %), resolution of visible varices (85 %), and improvement of subjective complaints such as sensations of heaviness and tension (96 %). Complications occur in 1 % - 3 % of cases, which is markedly below the rate of conventional surgical management (up to 30 %). The intermediate-term incidence of recurrent varicosis in a vein treated by EVLT depends on the laser fluence applied and is reported to range from 7 % - 9 % compared to 10 % - 20 % after surgical intervention. Based on a review of the current literature and our own experience, this survey article presents an overview of the indications and contraindications, the technique and pathophysiology of laser-induced venous occlusion, and the results and possible complications of EVLT.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Radiologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte. claudia.kluner@charite.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kluner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Filimonow
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kröncke
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*