[Comparison of immediate therapeutic effects of endovenous laser treatment and conventional therapy for lower extremity varicose veins].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the immediate therapeutic effects of endovenous laser treatment (ELT) and conventional surgery for lower extremity varicosity (LEV).


METHODS
Twenty-two limbs of 20 patients with ELT and 36 limbs of 30 patients with traditional surgery were analyzed in terms of operation time, number of the incision, postoperative pain, complications, postoperative hospital stay and one-year recurrence rate.


RESULTS
ELT group had shorter operation time, fewer incisions, less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stay than conventional surgery group, but the two groups showed no significant difference in complications and one-year recurrence rate.


CONCLUSIONS
As a safe and effective new treatment of LEV with minimal invasiveness and leaving no scars ELT has the potential to replace conventional surgery and extends the surgical indications for LEV treatment.
Wu
Liang-ping
LP
Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou 510010, China. wlpok@tom.com
Huang
Zong-hai
ZH
Wang
Jun
J
Zhou
Hong-feng
HF
Zhang
Yu-xin
YX
D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D035002:Lower Extremity; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*