title: Saphenous laser ablation at 1470 nm targets the vein wall, not blood.
abstract: The 2 primary objectives of this study were to investigate whether the 1470-nm wavelength can close a saphenous vein painlessly and determine safety, efficacy, and side effects of the 1470-nm laser. In all, 26 limbs were treated in the Dominican Republic, with a radially-emitting fiber at low energy ranging from 20 J/cm to 30 J/cm. Perivenous anesthesia was used selectively. Then 41 veins were treated with the 1470-nm laser at 30 J/cm at 5 watts, using standard perivenous tumescent anesthesia in Miami and compared to a historical control (980 nm, 80 J/cm, and 12 watts). We demonstrated that the 1470-nm wavelength endovenous laser system could not close saphenous veins without use of anesthesia. Closure with a dramatic reduction in energy when compared to a 980-nm wavelength control demonstrated a marked reduction in postoperative pain and ecchymosis; this implies that vein-wall perforations are minimized with this system.
authors.affiliation: Miami Vein Center and University of Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javier
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mauriello
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raines
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery