Endovenous Treatment for Great Saphenous Vein Insufficiency: A Comparative Study of Segmental Radiofrequency and 1470-nm Endovenous Laser

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate recovery time, patient-centric postoperative outcomes, and the efficacy of endovenous laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating venous insufficiency associated with great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux.MethodsIn this single-center, self-paired, randomized trial, 16 limbs from 8 patients with symptomatic bilateral GSV insufficiency were treated. LA was performed on one lower limb, and after 40 days, the contralateral limb was treated with RFA. For LA, we used a 1470-nm endolaser with radial fiber, and for RFA, the VNUS ClosureFast™ system. All patients were followed with clinical, radiological, and laboratory evaluations for 6 months postoperatively.ResultsBoth techniques showed similar postoperative pain scores, number of complications, time to return to work, and patient satisfaction scores. LA and RFA decreased the mean Venous Clinical Severity Score by the end of the study and achieved a 100% vein occlusion rate, along with a reduction in GSV size. Procedure time was significantly shorter with LA.ConclusionLA and RFA demonstrated similar recovery profiles, pain levels, and patient satisfaction outcomes, maintaining high efficacy in resolving venous insufficiency associated with GSV reflux.

Keywords: endovenous laser ablation; endovenous thermal ablation; great saphenous vein; laser 1470 nm; radial fiber; radiofrequency ablation; venous insufficiency.