Endovenous Laser Treatment of Saphenous Vein Reflux: Long-Term Results
Section snippets
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This prospective, nonrandomized, consecutive-enrollment study included 423 patients who underwent endovenous laser treatment of incompetent GSV segments with 810-nm diode laser energy delivered intraluminally for treatment of primary varicose veins. The study protocol was approved by the Weill Medical College of Cornell University Institutional Review Board. All patients gave written informed consent before treatment.
RESULTS
Follow-up results ranging from 1 month to 39 months (mean, 17 months; SD, 11 months) were obtained in 499 of the 504 limbs treated with endovenous laser during the study period. Successful endovenous laser treatment, as defined earlier, was seen in 490 of 499 limbs (98%) at 1-month follow-up. Eight of nine GSVs requiring repeat endovenous laser were successfully closed with a second endovenous laser treatment. Continued closure of the treated GSV segments was noted at longitudinal follow-up at
DISCUSSION
Percutaneous methods for treating incompetent GSVs are not new. Duplex-guided sclerotherapy for treatment of GSV reflux has been attempted, but long-term studies have failed to prove durability comparable to surgery (15, 16, 17, 18, 19). Initial attempts at damaging vein walls by electrocoagulation involved creation of a thrombus within the vessel lumen, ultimately resulting in recanalization (20, 21, 22). Early methods of intraluminal delivery of high-frequency alternating-current
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Midterm results of radiofrequency ablation with multiple heat cycles for incompetent saphenous veins
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2022, International Journal of SurgerySystematic review on the incidence and management of endovenous heat-induced thrombosis following endovenous thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein
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R.J.M. is a consultant to Diomed (Andover, MA), assisting in development of medical treatments and physician training. R.J.M. is coinventor and part owner of a patent on endovenous laser treatment of veins, for which he receives royalties. R.J.M. and Cornell Vascular have paid for all medical equipment used in procedures relating to this study. S.E.Z. is a paid consultant to Diomed, Inc. (Andover, MA), assisting in development of medical treatments. S.E.Z. is also paid to assist in physican training. S.E.Z. purchased all medical equipment he used in connection with this study. The other author has not identified a potential conflict of interest.