Incompetent great saphenous veins treated with endovenous 1,320-nm laser: results for 71 legs and morphologic evolvement study.
BACKGROUND
Endovenous lasers with various wavelengths have been utilized with good outcomes in treating leg varicose veins. The natural history and evolution of treated veins after endovenous procedures, however, have seldom been addressed.


OBJECTIVE
This study determines the efficacy vein ablation and serial venous morphologic evolution of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSVs) after endovenous 1,320-nm laser treatment.


METHODS
Fifty patients with symptomatic varicose veins secondary to GSV insufficiency treated with 1,320-nm endovenous laser ablation were enrolled. The treated varicose veins in each limb were mapped and sized before laser treatment. Vein wall diameters were measured with duplex ultrasound at follow-up visits.


RESULTS
Seventy-one limbs in 50 patients were enrolled. During the mean 13.1-month follow-up, closure of GSVs was observed in 94% of limbs (67/71). Vein diameters at 3 cm below saphenofemoral junction level were reduced to 81% at 2 days, 75% at 1 month, 48% at 3 months, and 39% at 5 months. Average mean duration for treated GSVs to narrow as fibrotic cords (internal diameter,<2.5 mm) was 5.8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The endovenous 1,320-nm laser ablation procedures have excellent efficacy in treating incompetent GSVs. This excellent shrinkage behavior may be the basis for nice long-term results of patients treated with 1,320-nm Cooltouch endovenous laser.
Yang
Chih-Hsun
CH
Department of Dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. dermadr@hotmail.com
Chou
Hong-Shiue
HS
Lo
Yung-Feng
YF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*