Complications and Failure of Endovenous Laser Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation Procedures in Patients With Lower Extremity Varicose Veins in a 5-Year Follow-Up.
BACKGROUND
Thermal ablation techniques have gradually replaced Babcock procedure in varicose vein treatment.


OBJECTIVE
A comparative quantitative-qualitative analysis of complications and failure of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in a 5-year follow-up.


METHODS
One hundred ten adult participants with varicose veins clinical grade C2to C6, treated for isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) or small saphenous vein (SSV) insufficiency in a single lower extremity in 2009 to 2010, were enrolled and subdivided into EVLA (n = 56) and RFA (n = 54) groups. Both groups were compared for demography, disease stage, affected veins, perioperative, and postoperative complications as well as treatment efficacy.


RESULTS
The perioperative and postoperative complications were statistically insignificant. Treatment efficacy, expressed as the number of participants with recurrent varicosity and recanalization, was comparable in both groups. The clinically significant recanalization rate was 3.6% and 5.6% in EVLA and RFA groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovenous laser ablation and RFA for the management of lower extremity varicose vein offer comparable efficacy and safety in a 5-year follow-up.
First Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Second Faculty of Medicine with the English Division and the Physiotherapy Division, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland drww@onet.pl.
Witold
W
Woźniak
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Second Faculty of Medicine with the English Division and the Physiotherapy Division, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
R Krzysztof
RK
Mlosek
First Department of General and Vascular Surgery, Second Faculty of Medicine with the English Division and the Physiotherapy Division, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
Piotr
P
Ciostek
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult
and recanalization rate; complications; endovenous laser ablation; radiofrequency segmental thermal ablation; varicose veins