title: The effect of laser wavelength on postoperative pain score in the endovenous ablation of saphenous vein insufficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endovenous laser ablation has replaced surgical methods in the treatment of saphenous insufficiency. The aims of this study were to compare the effectiveness of 1470- and 980-nm wavelength (WL) laser systems, to compare the postoperative complication rates, and to determine the effect of laser WL on postoperative pain scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 2010 and November 2011, 79 consecutive patients with saphenous vein insufficiency were examined. The patients who received the 980-nm treatment were defined as Group 1; 54 extremities of 47 patients were treated in this group. The patients who received the 1470-nm treatment were defined as Group 2; 36 extremities of 32 patients were treated in this group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early technical success was 100% in both groups. Both major and minor complications were seen in Group 2. The complications in Group 1 were mostly major; however, three minor complications were reported in this group. The complication rates of the two groups were not significantly different. There was no statistically significant difference between the pain scores of the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early postoperative pain was the major factor that impaired quality of life. There was no relationship between the postoperative pain scores and laser WL or energy density. The laser WL did not affect technical success or occurrence of complications. Use of a suitable energy density resulted in complete occlusion in all patients with saphenous vein insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Başkent University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Enes
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Duman
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Tonguc
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saba
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozulku
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunday
authors.forename: Gokcen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coban
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult