title: Clinical risk factors to predict deep venous thrombosis post-endovenous laser ablation of saphenous veins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endovenous laser ablation of saphenous veins is an alternative in treating symptomatic varicose veins. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has been reported in up to 7.7% of patients undergoing such procedure. We sought to establish clinical risk factors that predict DVT post-endovenous laser ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent endovenous laser ablation were prospectively followed. Clinical data and post-interventional duplex ultrasound were analysed. A P value <0.05 was accepted as representing a significant difference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2007 to 2008, 360 consecutive patients were followed. Nineteen DVTs were found on follow-up ultrasound. Eighteen cases involved either the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junctions; only one case involved the deep venous system. Age >66 (P = 0.007), female gender (P = 0.048) and prior history of superficial thrombophlebitis (SVT) (P = 0.002) were associated with increased risk of DVT postprocedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age >66, female gender and history of SVT were significant predictors of DVT post-endovenous laser ablation of saphenous veins.
authors: Vascular Center, University of California, Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA.
authors: Y-W
authors: YW
authors: Chi
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Woods
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
keywords: deep venous thrombosis; endovenous laser ablation; saphenous veins; venous insufficiency