title: A systematic review of the compression regimes used in randomised clinical trials following endovenous ablation.
abstract: Objectives There is insufficient evidence to inform guidelines on the optimal compression strategy following ablation for varicose veins. This study aimed to identify the practice of key opinion leaders performing randomised clinical trials involving endovenous ablation. Method A systematic review of MEDLINE/EMBASE/CENTRAL was performed identifying the compression strategies used in randomised clinical trials where at least one comparator arm underwent endovenous ablation. Results Thirty-four randomised clinical trials were identified. At least 14 different compression products were used, with at least 6 different pressures in 7 different regimes with durations from 2 to 84 days. There was no evidence of any convergence of practice over time. Conclusions A lack of evidence as to the optimal strategy for compression has resulted in a marked variation in clinical practice. There is no suggestion that this variation is becoming less over time indicating that experience is not helping to form a consensus and, therefore, further research is required.
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El-Sheikha
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carradice
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Sandip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandhra
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: 2 Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: 1 Hull York Medical School, Academic Vascular Surgery Unit, Hull Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chetter
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D058128:Compression Bandages; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Compression; endothermal ablation; endovenous laser; foam sclerotherapy; radiofrequency ablation