title: Radiofrequency ablation of the great saphenous vein with the ClosureFAST™ procedure: mid-term experience on 400 patients from a single centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular obliteration of the great saphenous vein (GSV) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional extirpative treatment of varicose veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  This report reviewed the initial experience with the ClosureFAST™ procedure in 407 legs over a one-year period. Occlusion of the GSV was seen on 98 % of completion scans and in all patients within 1 week of the procedure. Persistent occlusion was documented in all cases. One had paresthesias and one had skin pigmentation. Three patients had transient superficial thrombophlebitis in a treated segment of a superficial collateral of the GSV. One patient was found to have extension of an asymptomatic, nonocclusive thrombus into the common femoral vein 1 week after the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation of the GSV appears to be a safe alternative to conventional stripping and ligation. Randomised clinical trials and longer follow-up periods are required to establish the overall superiority of the procedure in comparison to conventional stripping.
authors.affiliation: General and Vascular Surgery Department, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Via Pier Lombardo 22, 20135, Milan, Italy. v.tolva@auxologico.it
authors.forename: Valerio S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Tolva
authors.forename: Lea V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Cireni
authors.forename: Paolo G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Almarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Guido C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Renato M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Casana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult