title: Endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein - Varying energy may not affect outcome.
abstract: Objectives To determine great saphenous vein occlusion rate after endovenous laser ablation using the 1470-nm bare-fiber diode laser to supply either 7 W or 15 W and evaluate procedure-related complications. Method Patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities (CEAP class C2-C6) were randomly assigned to undergo either 7-W (18 patients, 30 limbs) or 15-W (18 patients, 30 limbs) endovenous laser ablation. Duplex ultrasound follow-up was at 3-5 days, 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results Occlusion rate was 100% in both groups at 3-5 days and 1 month and 86.7% in 7-W and 100% in 15-W patients at both 6 and 12 months, with no difference between groups ( p > 0.05). Four (13.3%) 15-W and 3 (10%) 7-W patients had paresthesia at 3-5 days, with no difference between groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusions These preliminary data suggest that both techniques are similarly effective in the treatment of varicose great saphenous veins.
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinical Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Nejm
authors.affiliation: 2 Division of Vascular Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge Rr
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Timi
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinical Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Walter Boim
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinical Surgery, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Filipe C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Caron
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016342:Angioplasty, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Ablation techniques; laser therapy; saphenous vein; varicose veins