title: [Endovenous laser ablation versus conventional surgery for great saphenous varicose veins:meta-analysis of randomized trials].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the available data of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCT) to compare endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) with conventional surgery of high ligation and stripping (HL/S) for the treatment of great saphenous varicose veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database and Wanfang database was performed to retrieve RCT studies on the effectiveness of EVLT versus HL/S up to January 1999. The rates of postoperative recurrence at 1 year, 2 years and major complications were analyzed by Review Manager 5.1 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight retrieved RCT studies and 1743 limps were evaluated. The ratios of recurrence were the same for EVLT and HL/S at 1 and 2 years post-operation. For the ratios of major postoperative complications, there was no statistical difference between EVLT and HL/S in thrombosis, wound infection and phlebitis. But EVLT could reduce the ratio of paresthesia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with HL/S, EVLT shows no significant difference in the 1/2-year recurrence rate or the rates of thrombosis, wound infection and phlebitis. However, it can decrease the rate of paresthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*