title: Results of endovenous ClosureFast treatment for varicose veins in an outpatient setting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endovenous methods are increasingly used to treat varicose veins. We evaluated the outcome of patients treated with the new radiofrequency ablation (RFA)-ClosureFast catheter in an outpatient setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of postinterventional duplex ultrasound (DUS), complication rate and quality of life of patients treated for incompetent saphenous veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 2007 and 2009, 155 patients had been treated with ClosureFast. DUS was available from 73 (47%) patients (102 great [GSV] and 16 small [SSV] saphenous veins). After a mean follow-up of 12.2 months (range 1-29 months), DUS showed six (5.9%) open GSV and an occlusion of all treated SSV. One pulmonary embolism had occurred. Mean patient's satisfaction was 8.7 (10 = very satisfied), pain after one week 2.0 (no pain = 0, maximal = 10) and absence of work was 0.9 day (range 0-14 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA for incompetent saphenous veins can safely be performed in an outpatient setting with a low complication rate, minimal pain and fast recovery.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Angiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bisang
authors.forename: T O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enzler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Husmann
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Amann-Vesti
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult