title: Comparison of traditional surgery and laser treatment of incontinent great saphenous vein. Results of a meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to compare EVLA to traditional surgery, by evaluating the incidence of recurrences.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis to challenge both surgical and LASER treatment, using, as clinical outcome, the presence or the absence of reflux. A systematic review of literature about the treatment of varicose veins was performed, searching in the following databases: PUBMED-MEDLINE, Cochrane Library. Search terms considered were: stripping, HL/S, surgery, LASER, EVL*, varicose vein, GSV, saphenous vein. Only RCTs based at least on sixmonths follow-up were considered eligible in the study. Methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using Cochrane Collaboration Bias Risk Assessment Tool. Effects of the dichotomous variables taken in consideration were evaluated using pooled risk-ratios with 95% C.I. Articles were evaluated initially from abstracts; eligible papers were fulltext examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have considered 2 groups, A and B. A Group: 756 legs treated with conventional surgical procedure; B Group: 755 legs treated with EVLA technique. A Group showed 175 post-procedure recurrences, while B showed 97 recurrences. The average O.R. was 1.72; minimum O.R. was of .497 while the maximum was of 8.064.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained OR average value is 1.72 with a 95% C.I. of 0.94-3.12, which includes the value 1, contrary to the criteria for rejection of the null hypothesis. For this reason there is not a statistically significant difference between the results obtained by the two techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The endovascular laser ablation (EVLA) does not prove to be superior in terms of recurrence, to the surgical technique. However, it remains a viable treatment option in patients with impaired great saphenous vein, reducing postoperative pain and hospital stay.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Laser therapy, Meta-analysis, Saphenous vein, Surgery, Venous insufficiency.
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quarto
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amato
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Benassai
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallinoro
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Apperti
authors.forename: Ermenegildo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Furino
mesh_terms: D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012008:Recurrence; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*