title: Effect of Diameter of Saphenous Vein on Stump Length after Radiofrequency Ablation for Varicose Vein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has gained popularity for treatment of varicose veins. The diameter of the saphenous vein should be considered before RFA because occlusion of the vein may differ depending on its diameter. Until now, however, there have been few data about the correlation between the diameter of the saphenous vein and the stump length after RFA. The purpose of our study was to investigate its correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed from prospectively collected data of RFA patients between March 2009 and December 2011. Preoperatively, the saphenous vein diameter was measured. Ablation was initiated 2 cm distal from the junction. Postoperatively, stump length was measured at 1 week and 6 months. After 2 years, we measured the length from the saphenofemoral junction to the leading point of occlusion for great saphenous vein, and length from the saphenopopliteal junction to the leading point of occlusion for small saphenous vein. The paired t-test, independent t-test, and correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, RFA was performed in 201 patients. Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis developed in 3 patients (1.5%). After 2 years, the stump length was obtained in 74 limbs. The mean diameter and stump length of the saphenous vein were 6.7±1.8 mm and 12.5±8.5 mm, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the Pearson correlation coefficient of these factors was -0.017.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no correlation between the diameter of saphenous vein and stump length.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jusung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sungsin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Joh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Chul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Catheter ablation; Diameter; Radiofrequency; Varicose veins