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

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos S Nejm ◽  
Jorge RR Timi ◽  
Walter Boim de Araújo ◽  
Filipe C Caron

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.

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (8) ◽  
pp. 534-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma B Dabbs ◽  
Laurensius E Mainsiouw ◽  
Judith M Holdstock ◽  
Barrie A Price ◽  
Mark S Whiteley

Aims To report on great saphenous vein diameter distribution of patients undergoing endovenous laser ablation for lower limb varicose veins and the ablation technique for large diameter veins. Methods We collected retrospective data of 1929 (943 left leg and 986 right leg) clinically incompetent great saphenous vein diameters treated with endovenous laser ablation over five years and six months. The technical success of procedure, complications and occlusion rate at short-term follow-up are reported. Upon compression, larger diameter veins may constrict asymmetrically rather than concentrically around the laser fibre (the ‘smile sign’), requiring multiple passes of the laser into each dilated segment to achieve complete ablation. Results Of 1929 great saphenous veins, 334 (17.31%) had a diameter equal to or over 15 mm, which has been recommended as the upper limit for endovenous laser ablation by some clinicians. All were successfully treated and occluded upon short-term follow-up. Conclusion We suggest that incompetent great saphenous veins that need treatment can always be treated with endovenous laser ablation, and open surgery should never be recommended on vein diameter alone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 2050313X2092642
Author(s):  
Satoshi Watanabe ◽  
Takafumi Tsuji ◽  
Shinya Fujita ◽  
Soji Nishio ◽  
Eisho Kyo

Recurrent varicose veins are considered to be caused by the recurrence of reflux but rarely may be secondary to other pathologies. A 39-year-old man complained of right lower leg skin pigmentation, pain and fatigue for several years. Duplex ultrasound revealed that the great saphenous vein diameter at the saphenofemoral junction level was 7.7 cm, and at the knee medial level was 14.4 cm. The reflux time at the proximal great saphenousvein level was 1.85 s. Endovenous laser ablation for dilated and refluxed great saphenous vein was performed. However, 1 year later, the symptoms recurred. Duplex ultrasound suspected abnormal arterial flow from the right superficial femoral artery to the recanalized segment of previously ablated great saphenous vein and anterior accessory saphenous vein. One month later, despite the successful re-endovenous laser ablation, the symptoms recurred. Computed tomography angiography showed three fistulous vessels from superficial femoral artery to anterior accessory saphenous vein. Combined treatments with endovenous laser ablation and coil embolization was performed. Ultimately, the fistulas were obliterated and the patient remained free of symptoms. Varicose veins due to the fistulas from superficial femoral artery are rare and difficult to diagnose but can be entirely treated with the percutaneous approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1707
Author(s):  
Hatem Hussein Mohamed ◽  
Beshoy Magdy Alshahat ◽  
Mamdouh Mohamed Almezaien

Background: Varicose veins are permanently swollen, tortuous and elongated while standing due to back flow of blood caused by incompetent valve closure which result in venous congestion .they are of two types primary and secondary varicosities .The main symptoms are tingling, itching, pain, fatigue, a heavy feeling in the legs especially if one has to stand for a long time. Ulcers and thrombophlebitis are possible complications. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of laser ablation of great saphenous vein on healing of varicose ulcers.Methods: A prospective study conducted at Suez Canal University Hospitals and Nasser Institute Hospital in Cairo on 20 patients complaining varicose ulcers due to incompetent saphenous femoral junction.Results: All patients had improvement in Abrdeen Varicose vein questionnaire after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) during the first, second and third follow up visits when compared with preoperative scores. The Aberdeen Varicose vein questionnaire ranged from 8 to 18 before the procedure, with a mean of 12.11, ranged from 3 to 11 at the first follow up visit with a mean of 7.07, ranged from 2 to 10 at the second follow up visit with a mean of 4.89 and ranged from 2 to 10 at the third follow up visit with a mean of 3.85, p value is less than 0.001 compared to the pre-operative data. During the assessment of the patients of our study after 6 months of continuous follow up, we found that the healing rate of the patients who underwent laser ablation of great saphenous vein were (91.67) (p=0.769).Conclusions: EVLA of great saphenous vein leads to better wound healing rates in treating patients with varicose ulcers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-96
Author(s):  
Sandeep Raj Pandey ◽  
George Bush Jung Katwal ◽  
Sharad Hari Gajuryal

Introduction: Endovascular ablation of varicose vein either by radiofrequency ablationor laser delivers sufficient thermal energy to incompetent vein segments to produce irreversible occlusion, fibrosis and ultimately disappearance of the vein.Materials and Methods: Three hundred patients with varicosities due to primary or recurrent sapheno-femoral or sapheno-popliteal junction and great or small saphenous veinreflux underwent out-patient and in-patient endovenous thermal ablation between January 2015 to December 2017.The great saphenous vein was ablated from 2-2.5 cm below sapheno-femoral junction to knee and the small saphenous vein was ablated from mid-calf to the sapheno-popliteal junction.Results: Patient returning time to normal activity was 0–1 days returning to normal daily activity were immediately after 4 hours. Duplex ultrasound follow-up (median 3-months) confirmed abolition of sapheno-femoral junction/great saphenous vein and sapheno-popliteal junction/small saphenous vein reflux in all limbs. There were no instances of skin burns or deep vein thrombosis, but, 7 patients developed transient cutaneous numbness involving sural nerve and 1 developed endovenous heat induced thrombosis 3.Conclusions: This is likely to be more effective than conventional surgery, although long-term follow up is required.  Despite being expensive in comparison to open surgery, endovenous thermal ablation is superior in terms of: minimizing pain, avoiding incision, early mobilisation and discharge. Changing the treatment distance from 2 cm to 2.5 cm peripheral to the Deep veins junction may result in a diminished incidence of endovenous heat induced thrombosis 3.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
TY Tang ◽  
JW Kam ◽  
ME Gaunt

Objectives This study assessed the effectiveness and patient experience of the ClariVein® endovenous occlusion catheter for varicose veins from a large single-centre series in the UK. Methods A total of 300 patients (371 legs) underwent ClariVein® treatment for their varicose veins; 184 for great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence, 62 bilateral GSV, 23 short saphenous vein (SSV), 6 bilateral SSV and 25 combined unilateral great saphenous vein and SSV. Patients were reviewed at an interval of two months post procedure and underwent Duplex ultrasound assessment. Postoperative complications were recorded along with patient satisfaction. Results All 393 procedures were completed successfully under local anaesthetic. Complete occlusion of the treated vein was initially achieved in all the patients, but at eight weeks’ follow-up, there was only partial obliteration in 13/393 (3.3%) veins. These were all successfully treated with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Procedures were well tolerated with a mean pain score of 0.8 (0–10). No significant complications were reported. Conclusions ClariVein® can be used to ablate long and short saphenous varicose veins on a walk-in–walk-out basis. Bilateral procedures can be successfully performed, and these are well tolerated as can multiple veins in the same leg. Early results are promising but further evaluation and longer term follow-up are required.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 496-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald S Winokur ◽  
Neil M Khilnani ◽  
Robert J Min

Introduction The patterns of recurrent varicose veins after endovascular ablation of the saphenous veins are not well described. Methods The current study describes the ultrasound defined recurrence patterns seen in 58 patients (79 limbs) who returned for evaluation of recurrent varicose veins from a cohort of 802 patients treated with endovenous laser ablation and subsequent sclerotherapy from March 2000 to March 2007 with clinical follow-up until May 2014. Findings The most common ultrasound defined recurrence patterns leading to the varicose veins were new reflux in the anterior accessory saphenous and small saphenous veins as well as recanalization of the treated saphenous segment. Neovascularization at the saphenofemoral junction and incompetent perforating veins as the source of the recurrent veins were not seen. Conclusions The patterns of recurrence following thermal ablation of saphenous veins are different to those seen after surgery. Specifically, new reflux in other saphenous veins is responsible for most recurrent varicose veins and neovascularity seems to be unusual following endovenous laser ablation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 700-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Starodubtsev ◽  
M Lukyanenko ◽  
A Karpenko ◽  
P Ignatenko

Objective To estimate the safety and efficacy of using the laser 1560 nm wavelength for treatment of chronic venous disease in patients with wide diameters of the proximal segment of the great saphenous vein. Methods In the study 88 patients with lower limb varicose veins were included. Maximum diameter of the great saphenous vein proximal segment varied from 15 to 34 mm (22 ± 2.3) in all patients. In the 1st group in 34 cases crossektomy and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) were performed. In the 2nd group in 30 cases EVLA regardless diameter of the great saphenous vein proximal segment was performed. In the 3rd group in 34 cases EVLA taking into account the diameter of the great saphenous vein proximal segment was performed. The laser 1560 nm wavelength was used. Linear endovenous energy density in the 1st and 2nd groups was 90 J/cm for the proximal segment and trunk of great saphenous vein. Linear endovenous energy density in the 3rd group was personalized on the size of the veins: 100 J/cm for diameter of great saphenous vein proximal segment 15–20 mm, 150 J/cm for diameter 20–30 mm, 90 J/cm for middle and distal segments of great saphenous vein. Results In the 1st group obliteration of the trunk of the great saphenous veins and accessory great saphenous veins in all cases without additional interventions was reached. In the 2nd group at four cases (13.3%) the second procedure EVLA was carried out, after which the obliteration of the trunk was achieved. In the 3rd group the obliteration of the trunk of great saphenous vein was achieved without additional interventions. Conclusion Our experience of using the laser 1560 nm wavelength for the treatment of the chronic venous disease in patients with wide diameter of the proximal segment of great saphenous vein shows the safety and efficacy of this technique. EVLA has to be personalized on the size of the segments of vein in patients with wide proximal segment of great saphenous vein.


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