title: Endovenous 1470 nm laser treatment of the saphenous vein: early report of pain assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the paper was to evaluate the rate of postoperative pain by using endovenous laser ablation with wave-length of 1470 nm for incompetent saphenous veins in our single center experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-randomized prospective trial was performed. Patients with symptomatic varicose small saphenous vein and great saphenous vein were considered suitable for endovenous laser ablation. The VenaCure EVLT™ (Angiodynamics, Queensbury, NY) generator was used to provide laser energy (1470 nm emission wavelength). Pain was assessed on the 7th days, 1st months, 3rd months, and 6th months using a visual analog scale rating of 0 cm (no pain) to 10 cm (worst imaginable pain).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 30 patients who eventually underwent endovenous laser ablation, 14 underwent bilateral treatment. Totally, 44 treated legs were scored. When questioned by using a visual analog scale pain score of 0-10, patients, on average, graded their pain 3.86 ± 1.04 at admission, 2.83 ± 0.91 at 1 week, 1.46 ± 0.63 at 1 month, 0.63 ± 0.49 at 3 months, and 0.07 ± 0.25 at 6 months. No major complication occurred, and there was no deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism nor skin ulceration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovenous laser ablation for chronic venous insufficiency with a 1470-nm diode laser appears to be effective and safe. The procedure is simple to perform, well accepted by patients and relatively atraumatic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Can Caliskan
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakmakci
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Celebi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D054023:Lasers, Semiconductor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*