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Clinical Trial
. 2001 Oct;12(10):1167-71.
doi: 10.1016/s1051-0443(07)61674-1.

Endovenous laser treatment of the incompetent greater saphenous vein

R J Min  1 , S E Zimmet, M N Isaacs, M D Forrestal
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Endovenous laser treatment of the incompetent greater saphenous vein

R J Min et al. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2001 Oct.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of endovenous laser treatment (EVLT), a novel percutaneous technique for occlusion of the incompetent greater saphenous vein (GSV).

Materials and methods: Ninety GSVs in 84 patients with reflux at the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) into the GSV were treated endovenously with pulses of laser energy and evaluated in a prospective, nonrandomized, consecutive enrollment multicenter study. Patients were evaluated at 1 week and at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months to determine efficacy and complications.

Results: Eighty-seven of 90 GSVs (97%) were closed 1 week after initial treatment with endovenous laser. The remaining three GSVs were closed after repeat treatment. Eighty-nine of 90 GSVs (99%) remained closed for as long as 9 months according to serial duplex ultrasonography. Sonographic evaluation demonstrated 73% reduction in GSV diameter at 6 months (61 patients) and 81% reduction in GSV diameter at 9 months (26 patients) after EVLT. One patient developed a transient localized skin paresthesia. There have been no other minor or major complications.

Conclusions: EVLT of the incompetent GSV appears to be an extremely safe technique that yields impressive short-term results. Long-term follow-up is awaited.

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