title: Preminary report: initial experience of endovascular laser therapy for varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein incompetence in Thailand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical venous stripping (SVS) is a standard treatment for varicose veins (VV) due to greater saphenous vein incompetence (GSVI) but there are some disadvantages to and risks. Endovascular laser (EVL) has been introduced to overcome these disadvantages. The present study was designed to determine the effectiveness of EVL treatment for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients with VV due to GSVI diagnosed by duplex scan were recruited in the present study. The EVL-procedure was percutaneously approached guiding by ultrasound under monitor anesthetic care (MAC). Postoperative clinical and imaging assessment was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 17 limbs with symptomatic VVs in 11 patients. Two patients were admitted for a reason not related to surgery. The others were day cases. There was no postoperative complication except a large echymosis in one case. At 3-month follow-up, no recanalization or recurrence was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors' early results demonstrated that EVL could obliterate VVs due to GSVI and further showed some benefits over SVS. More studies with a longer period of follow-up are needed to further confirm the efficacy of EVL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. Surasakleela@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Surasak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leelaudomlipi
authors.forename: Suthus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriphojanart
authors.forename: Panuwat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lersithichai
authors.forename: Theerapol
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Angkoolpakdeekul
authors.forename: Piyanuch
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pootrakul
authors.forename: Suthus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horsirimanont
authors.forename: Sopha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewrojshup
authors.forename: Sangiem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Traihattasap
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*