Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Objectives

To determine great saphenous vein occlusion rate after endovenous laser ablation using the 1470-nm bare-fiber diode laser to supply either 7 W or 15 W and evaluate procedure-related complications.

Method

Patients with varicose veins of the lower extremities (CEAP class C2–C6) were randomly assigned to undergo either 7-W (18 patients, 30 limbs) or 15-W (18 patients, 30 limbs) endovenous laser ablation. Duplex ultrasound follow-up was at 3–5 days, 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results

Occlusion rate was 100% in both groups at 3–5 days and 1 month and 86.7% in 7-W and 100% in 15-W patients at both 6 and 12 months, with no difference between groups (p > 0.05). Four (13.3%) 15-W and 3 (10%) 7-W patients had paresthesia at 3–5 days, with no difference between groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

These preliminary data suggest that both techniques are similarly effective in the treatment of varicose great saphenous veins.

Keywords

Ablation techniques laser therapy saphenous vein varicose veins

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Callam

. Epidemiology of varicose veins. Br J Surg 1994; 81: 167–173.

Rasmussen

Bjoern

Lawaetz

. Randomized trial comparing endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein with high ligation and stripping in patients with varicose veins: short-term results. J Vasc Surg 2007; 46: 308–315.

Timperman

Sichlau

Ryu

. Greater energy delivery improves treatment success of endovenous laser treatment of incompetent saphenous veins. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2004; 15: 1061–1063.

Kim

Paxton

. Endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein with a 980-nm diode laser in continuous mode: early treatment failures and successful repeat treatments. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2006; 17: 1449–1455.

Kabnick

. Outcome of different endovenous laser wavelengths for great saphenous vein ablation. J Vasc Surg 2006; 43: 88–93.

Stokbroekx

de Boer

Verdaasdonk

. Commonly used fiber tips in endovenous laser ablation (EVLA): an analysis of technical differences. Lasers Med Sci 2014; 29: 501–507.

Parente

Rosenblatt

. Endovenous laser treatment to promote venous occlusion. Lasers Surg Med 2003; 33: 115–118.

Proebstle

Moehler

Herdemann

. Reduced recanalization rates of the great saphenous vein after endovenous laser treatment with increased energy dosing: definition of a threshold for the endovenous fluence equivalent. J Vasc Surg 2006; 44: 834–839.

Marsh

Price

Holdstock

. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after venous thermoablation techniques: rates of endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) and classical DVT after radiofrequency and endovenous laser ablation in a single centre. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2010; 40: 521–527.

10.

Lurie

Creton

Eklof

. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (closure procedure) versus ligation and stripping in a selected patient population (EVOLVeS Study). J Vasc Surg 2003; 38: 207–214.

11.

Dexter

Kabnick

Berland

. Complications of endovenous lasers. Phlebology 2012; 27(Suppl 1): 40–45.

12.

Proebstle

Krummenauer

Gül

. Nonocclusion and early reopening of the great saphenous vein after endovenous laser treatment is fluence dependent. Dermatol Surg 2004; 30: 174–178.

13.

Leal

Mansilha

. Como avaliar o impacto da doença venosa crônica na qualidade de vida. Angiol Cir Vasc 2010; 6: 173–187.

14.

van Ruijven

Poluektova

van Gemert

. Optical-thermal mathematical model for endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins. Lasers Med Sci 2014; 29: 431–439.

15.

Schmedt

Blagova

Karimi-Poor

. Update of endovenous laser therapy and the latest application studies. Med Laser Appl 2010; 25: 34–43.

16.

Min

Khilnani

Zimmet

. Endovenous laser treatment of saphenous vein reflux: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2003; 14: 991–996.

17.

Pannier

Rabe

Maurins

. 1470 nm diode laser for endovenous ablation (EVLA) of incompetent saphenous veins – a prospective randomized pilot study comparing warm and cold tumescence anaesthesia. Vasa 2010; 39: 249–255.

18.

Doganci

Demirkilic

. Comparison of 980 nm laser and bare-tip fibre with 1470 nm laser and radial fibre in the treatment of great saphenous vein varicosities: a prospective randomised clinical trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2010; 40: 254–259.

19.

Schwarz

von Hodenberg

Furtwängler

. Endovenous laser ablation of varicose veins with the 1470-nm diode laser. J Vasc Surg 2010; 51: 1474–1478.

20.

Darwood

Gough

. Endovenous laser treatment for uncomplicated varicose veins. Phlebology 2009; 24(Suppl 1): 50–61.

Endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein – Varying energy may not affect outcome