Endovenous ablation plus microphlebectomy/sclerotherapy for the treatment of varicose veins: single or two-stage procedure?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to establish how often after the performance of endovenous ablation (EA), a second stage is required.


METHODS
Eighty-six consecutive lower extremities in 76 patients treated with laser EA were the cohort of this study. The clinical result after EA at 1 month was classified as excellent (no varicosities), good (major reduction in size), and poor (no change). Need for further intervention (sclerotherapy or microphlebectomy) was determined at the 1-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Complete resolution of varicosities after EA was found in 36 extremities (41.8%), reduction in size in 48 extremities (55.8%), and no change in 2 extremities (2.3%). Of the 86 extremities studied, 36 (41.8%) were considered in need of a second stage procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
After EA, 58.2% of extremities did not require further treatment. These results add further justification to the performance of EA alone as a first stage.
Schanzer
Harry
H
Division of Vascular Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. harryschanzer@hotmail.com
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing