Comparative study between endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) with 1940 nm versus EVLA with 1470 nm for treatment of incompetent great saphenous vein and short saphenous vein: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: To date, the most commonly used endothermal ablation method is endovenous laser ablation (EVLA). The objective of this work is to assess the initial and short-term outcomes of a 1940 nm diode laser compared with 1470 nm diode laser utilization for the treatment of lower limb varicose veins.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled prospective study that included patients with varicose veins. The allocated patients were randomized according to the technique used: group I, which was treated using EVLA with a 1940 nm diode laser, and group II, which was treated using EVLA with a 1470 nm diode laser.

Results: This study initially included 216 patients. After the exclusion of patients lost during follow-up, group I consisted of 105 patients, and group II consisted of 101 patients. There were high rates of anatomical success in the two groups with obliteration of the treated vessels at the 1-month follow-up (100% and 99%, respectively) and the 6-month follow-up (100% and 99%, respectively). A very low rate of adverse events was encountered (1%). Group II showed obviously longer median days to return for usual activities (11.5 compared with 7 days). They showed significantly higher pain scores, which was evident at the 7-day and 1-month follow-ups (P < .001).

Conclusions: Both lasers provided excellent outcomes in terms of anatomical success and low rates of adverse events. The 1940 nm diode laser was associated with lower median days to return for usual activities and significantly lower pain scores. Evidently, lower power and linear endovenous energy density were required for this laser.

Keywords: 1470 nm; 1940 nm; Endovenous laser ablation; Varicose veins.