Anatomy & Physiology: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Endovenous Laser Therapy of Great Saphenous Veın: Six Months Follow-Up

Celalettin Karatepe, Mustafa Aldemir and Onur Goksel

Objectives: The aim of this study is to analyze the outcome results and short term follow-up of our Endo Venous Laser Therapy (EVLT) cases operated in a hospital setting.

Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study. Two hundred patients were enrolled. Of these 200 patients, 124 (62%) were female and the average age of the patients was 37.7 ± 10.8 (ranged, 19 to 64). Reflux duration >0.5 s in ultrasound was considered as significant. The preoperative GSV diameter was measured in the standing position with USG was 12.3 ± 3.9 mm in average (ranged, 4.1 to 27.7 mm). Operations were performed with a 980 nm diode laser system (Gigaa SVLase 30w Surgical Diode Laser System, Wuhan, PRC). Laser energy applied GSV length was 31.1 ± 3.3 cm in average (ranged, 26-39 cm). Total delivered laser energy was 2783.3 ± 426.1 J (ranged, 1992-3464 joules). Follow up controls were performed at 1st week, 1st, 3rd and 6th months after the operation.

Results: Forty-four left, 64 right and 92 bilateral legs were treated. Phlebectomy was performed in 98 (49.0%) cases. The median follow up period for all of the patients was 11 months (range, 6-14 months). Most common complication during follow-up was paresthesia, especially on the first week control (n=8, 4.0%). The rate of symptomatic complications like paresthesia, phlebitis and hematoma gradually disappeared during follow-up as expected. The recanalization rates of ablated GSV were 1.0% in the 1st week and 3.5% recanalization rate was present by 6th month.

Conclusion: EVLT is a comfortable and safe method for treatment of venous insufficiency. It is important not to forget that EVLT is not free of complications and reducing these complications may help to improve the outcome results.