Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for lower limb varicose veins

Authors

  • Anushtup De Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, QRG Healthcity, Faridabad, Haryana, India
  • Prabal Roy Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, QRG Healthcity, Faridabad, Haryana, India
  • Sunil Kumar Department of General and Minimally Invasive Surgery, QRG Healthcity, Faridabad, Haryana, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-2902.isj20184643

Keywords:

Radiofrequency ablation, Varicose veins, Venous clinical severity score

Abstract

Background: Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) is gradually gaining widespread acceptance as a minimally invasive modality for treatment of varicose veins (VV). The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy based on Venous Doppler and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and the safety of radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 58 consecutive patients who underwent Radiofrequency ablation of Varicose veins from January 2015 to January 2017 in a single unit of a Multispecialty Tertiary Care Hospital. The mean age was 44.10±13.74 years (19-75 years). A total of 78 limbs were treated in 58 patients. RFA was performed using Closure FastTM catheter according to the manufacturer’s recommendation. Treatment outcomes were estimated 15 days, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the procedure using Doppler scan and VCSS score.

Results: There was 100% occlusion of the treated veins with no evidence of partial/complete recanalization. However, 2 (2.56%) patients had a GSV stump length > 3cm on Doppler at 6 months, without evidence of significant reflux. Minor complications such as ecchymosis erythema, pain and induration rapidly improved over short term. One patient (1.3%) had evidence of Deep Vein thrombosis (DVT) on follow up Venous Doppler. The mean VCSS improved from mean of 7.98 preoperatively to 2.24 after 1 year (P value <0.001).

Conclusions: Radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective procedure with minimal major complications. The minor complications were early and resolved rapidly.

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Published

2018-10-26

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Original Research Articles