title: The endovenous laser treatment for patients with varicose veins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical effect of endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) for patients with varicose veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our series included 117 patients who underwent EVLT combined with high ligation and stripping since the introduction of the technique in our institution. All EVLT procedures were performed with local skin cooling to prevent skin burns, as well as stripping after exsanguinations to prevent thrombotic phlebitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 146 limbs in 117 patients were ablated by EVLT. Bilateral EVLT was performed in 29 patients, with the remaining 88 patients undergoing unilateral EVLT. The mean age of the patients was 57 years ± 12 years (range: 21 years to 80 years), and 56 were male and 61 were female. Follow-up for all patients lasted three to six months. The most common complication was induration and swelling, which was observed in 64 patients, followed by paraesthesia in 27, and skin burns in 12.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment with endovenous laser treatment for patients with varicose veins is safe and effective.
authors.affiliation: Jian-Jun Liu, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Long-Hua Fan, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China.
authors.forename: Long-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: De-Chun Xu, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China.
authors.forename: De-Chun
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Xu Li, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai 201700, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Zhi-Hui Dong, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Wei-Guo Fu, Department of Vascular Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Fu
keywords: Endovenous laser treatment; Great saphenous veins; Varicose veins