Endovenous ablation with a 940 nm laser for the treatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency: short- to mid-term results.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to present the short- to mid-term results of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) procedures that were used to treat great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency.


METHODS
This prospective study was conducted between December 2009 and January 2011. A total of 112 incompetent GSVs were treated using EVLA with a 940 nm wavelength laser. Ninety patients were treated for varicose veins with saphenous reflux, including 36 females (40%) and 54 males (60%). These patients' ages ranged from 17 to 79 years (median, 48 years). After the EVLA, the patients were monitored using duplex ultrasonography and were assessed clinically at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery. The patients were scheduled for a three-day examination after the EVLA to assess the level of pain that each patient was experiencing in each limb.


RESULTS
At the end of a one-year follow-up period, the postprocedural duplex scans revealed a total occlusion of the treated GSVs in 88 (97%) patients and a sub-total occlusion in two (2%) patients. The average modified clinical, etiological, anatomical, and pathological score was significantly decreased at 12 months. The following complications were observed in the present study: hypoesthesia (11%), swelling and induration (5%), skin pigmentation (5%), deep vein thrombosis (1%), erythema (1%), and bleeding (1%). The mean visual analog pain score for the entire procedure was 3.14±1.06.


CONCLUSIONS
Our short- and mid-term results of the EVLA procedure were satisfactory, and the results of this study reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of an EVLA using a 940 nm wavelength for the treatment of GSV insufficiency.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gümüşhane State Hospital, Gümüşhane, Turkey. dr.m.erdem07@hotmail.com
Mehmet Erdem
ME
Memetoğlu
Serpil
S
Kurtcan
Ozan
O
Erbasan
Deniz
D
Özel
D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult