title: Four-year follow-up on endovascular radiofrequency obliteration of great saphenous reflux.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular radiofrequency obliteration has been used since 1998 as an alternative to conventional vein stripping surgery for elimination of saphenous vein insufficiency.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the long-term efficacy of this treatment modality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were prospectively collected in a multicenter ongoing registry. Only great saphenous vein above-knee treatments were included in this study. Eight hundred ninety patients (1,078 limbs) were treated prior to November 2003 at 32 centers. Clinical and duplex ultrasound follow-up was performed at 1 week, 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1,078 limbs treated, 858 were available for follow-up within 1 week, 446 at 6 months, 384 at 1 year, 210 at 2 years, 114 at 3 years, and 98 at 4 years. The vein occlusion rates were 91.0%, 88.8%, 86.2%, 84.2%, and 88.8%, respectively; the reflux-free rates were 91.0%, 89.3%, 86.2%, 86.0%, and 85.7%, respectively; and the varicose vein recurrence rates were 7.2%, 13.5%, 17.1%, 14.0%, and 21.4%, respectively, at each follow-up time point at 6 months, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Patient symptom improvement persisted over 4 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular temperature-controlled radiofrequency obliteration of saphenous vein reflux exhibits an enduring treatment efficacy clinically, anatomically, and hemodynamically up to 4 years following treatment.
authors.affiliation: The Reno Vein Clinic, Reno, Nevada, USA. doc@renoveinclinic.com
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pichot
authors.forename: Kenneth A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology