Indications and results of endovenous laser tratment (EVLT) for greater saphenous vein incompetentce. Our experience.
OBJECTIVE
Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) seems to be a safe and less invasive method for the treatment of the great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence. The aim of our study was to evaluate the indications and results of EVLT.


METHODS
Between January 2003 and October 2004, 77 patients (55 C3 and 22 C4) underwent EVLT. In 23 cases phlebectomy was performed, in 16 patients a subfascial perforator vein ligations occurred. In 62 patients we used a percutaneous access to the distal GSV, in 15 cases a surgical isolation was performed. In all cases a 600 nm with 1 mm diameter laser was used.


RESULTS
Follow-up was performed for a period of 6 months and showed GSV recanalization in 2 cases; 18 patients (23.3%) developed a transient postoperative pain along GSV, in 4 (5.1%) of them the pain persisted for 3 months. In 6 cases a reversible paresthesia due to a lesion of the saphenous nerve were recorded (7.7%) and in 1 case (1.2%) a skin burn occurred. No deep vein thromboses were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
EVLT is a safe technique, with low incidence of recanalizations and postoperative complications. Our opinion is to extend the indication in selected cases of GSV incompetence.
Siani
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Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, S.Pietro-Fatebene Fratelli Hospital, Rome, Italy. lucamaria.siani@tin.it
Flaishman
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I
Rossi
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Schioppa
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A
La Vigna
R
R
Zaccaria
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D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*