title: Risk factors associated with recanalization of incompetent saphenous veins treated with radiofrequency ablation catheter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the occlusion rate of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSVs) and small saphenous veins (SSVs) treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and individualize variables associated with recanalization.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 311 veins (256 GSVs and 55 SSVs) in 211 patients [177 women, 34 men; mean age, 45 years±12 (SD) (range: 18-75 years)] with incompetent GSVs and/or SSVs who were treated using new-generation RFA catheters was performed. The clinical results, occlusion rates, and variables associated with recanalization for the incompetent GSVs and SSVs were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No major complications were observed in the study population. Ten months after RFA, the occlusion rate was 89% (227/256) for GSVs and 91% (50/55) for SSVs. An increased pre-procedure diameter of the incompetent GSVs was associated with a higher rate of recanalization (OR: 0.825; 95% CI: 0.715-0.952) (P<0.05). No significant differences in age, gender, and side of treated veins were found between patients with recanalization of treated veins and those without recanalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that pre-procedure diameter of the GSV is the single risk factor for recanalization after RFA.
authors.affiliation: Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, 42080 Konya, Turkey. Electronic address: naymanalaaddin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nayman
authors.affiliation: Medicana Camlica Hospital, Department of Interventional Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Baskent University, Adana Teaching and Medical Research Center, Department of Radiology, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Koca
authors.affiliation: Acibadem University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Deniz
authors.affiliation: Selcuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, 42080 Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koplay
authors.affiliation: Koc University Hospital, Department of Interventional Radiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oguzkurt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Radiofrequency catheter ablation; Saphenous vein; Varicose veins; Venous insufficiency