Endovenous ablation of incompetent saphenous veins: a large single-center experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of endovenous treatment of symptomatic varicose veins using the endovenous laser (EVL) or radiofrequency (RF) energy over a >3-year follow-up.


METHODS
From February 2002 to August 2005, 981 consecutive patients (770 women; mean age 51 years, range 15-90) with symptomatic varicose veins in 1250 lower limbs underwent endovenous ablation of 1149 great saphenous veins (GSV) and 101 small saphenous veins (SSV) under tumescent anesthesia without intravenous sedation or regional anesthesia. There were 990 GSV and 101 SSV procedures using EVL; 159 GSVs were treated with RF energy. An ultrasound evaluation was performed within 2 weeks of the procedure to evaluate occlusion of the vein, wall thickness, and clot extension into the deep venous system. Follow-up from the first 200 procedures in the series included clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound scanning at 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter.


RESULTS
Of the 1149 GSVs treated, 39 (3.4%) recanalizations were seen in 33 of the EVL and 6 of the RF procedures for inadequate treatment as judged by ultrasound. There were 9 (9.0%) failures among the 101 SSVs treated with EVL. Overall, both EVL and RF procedures were well tolerated, with only minor complications. One obese patient with ulcer developed pulmonary embolus on the fourth postoperative day. There were no differences between EVL and RF in efficacy or complications. Follow-up at a mean 3 years (range 30- 42 months) in 143 treated limbs showed no neovascularization in the groin.


CONCLUSIONS
Outcomes with EVL and RF were good, with low complication rates that may be related to the use of local tumescent anesthesia without intravenous sedation.
Ravi
Rajagopalan
R
Department of Cardiovascular and Endovascular Surgery, Arizona Heart Institute and Arizona Heart Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona 85006, USA. rravi@azheart.com
Rodriguez-Lopez
Julio A
JA
Trayler
Edwina A
EA
Barrett
Deborah A
DA
Ramaiah
Venkatesh
V
Diethrich
Edward B
EB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*