Meta-analysis of transilluminated powered phlebectomy for superficial varicosities.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present meta-analysis was to analyze the data available concerning the transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP).


METHODS
A multiple electronic health database search was performed including Medline, Embase, Ovid, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (DARE), on all studies published between 1996 and 2007 that reported about health outcomes in patients with cardiovascular insufficiency (CVI) treated with TIPP and comparing this therapy with the conventional procedure. Five studies, that compared TIPP with conventional surgery, were included in the present meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Currently, these data clearly proved significant statistical advantage of TIPP technique over the conventional treatment, only for number of incisions, mean cosmetic score and duration of the procedure. However, TIPP technique seemed to be faster only for extensive varicose veins. There was, however, a significantly reduced incidence of calf hematoma after hook phlebectomy compared to TIPP, and TIPP procedure was associated with a worse mean pain score.


CONCLUSIONS
Further randomized trials are needed to determine the benefit of this procedure.
Luebke
T
T
Department of Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Brunkwall
J
J
D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014172:Transillumination; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*