The aim of the study was to conduct a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein using the endovascular high-frequency welding technique and traditional phlebectomy. Materials and methods: Two groups were formed in the conducted study. Group I included patients (n=42) with the acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein, in whom their thrombosed great saphenous vein was removed using the endovascular high-frequency welding technique. As a source of current, an EK300M1 Svarmed electric welding machine (Ukraine) was used. Electric welding of a thrombosed vein segment was carried out using the endovenous electric welding catheter. Group II included patients (n=31) with the acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein, who underwent the traditional phlebectomy of the thrombosed great saphenous vein according to Babcock’s technique.
Results: In group I no patient revealed presence of pain syndrome with significant intensity during the postoperative period. An infiltrate along the coagulated segments of the great saphenous vein, postoperative oedema and paresthesiae were observed in considerably fewer cases from group I versus group II (р=0.0005, р=0.0001, р=0.0018). During their follow-up for more than 12 months, 2 (4.76 %) of 42 patients from group I revealed partial recanalization of the great saphenous vein (р=0.632). In group I the postoperative inpatient period was 1.3±0.1 days. In group II the above period averaged 4.8±0.8 days (p<0.001). Absence of an intense pain syndrome in group I was caused by a gentle effect of high-frequency electric current itself on the venous wall and paravasal structures. A significant reduction of side effects and complications with a shorter stay of patients in hospital versus the traditional phlebectomy was achieved owing to reduction in the extent of injury of the surgical operation itself with the use of endovascular high-frequency welding.
Conclusions: The technique of endovascular high-frequency welding in treatment of acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein makes it possible to reduce the extent of injury of the surgical operation versus the traditional phlebectomy, results in a significant decrease in the number of side effects and complications and shortens the period of the patient’s stay in hospital.
High-frequency electric welding: a novel method for improved immediate chorioretinal adhesion in vitreoretinal surgery