Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovenous Microwave Ablation Combined with High Ligation Versus Conventional Surgery for Varicose Veins

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery 2013-10, Vol.46 (4), p.473-479
• Main Authors: Yang, L, Wang, X.P, Su, W.J, Zhang, Y, Wang, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation Techniques - adverse effects; Adult; Aged; China; Endovenous microwave ablation; Female; High ligation and stripping; Humans; Ligation; Male; Microwaves - adverse effects; Microwaves - therapeutic use; Middle Aged; Quality of Life; Recurrence; Saphenous Vein - surgery; Severity of Illness Index; Surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Varicose vein; Varicose Veins - diagnosis; Varicose Veins - surgery; Vascular Surgical Procedures - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1078-5884; 1532-2165
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2013.07.004

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of endovenous microwave ablation (EMA) in treatment of varicose veins (VVS). Methods The patients were randomly divided into EMA and high ligation and stripping (HLS) groups. Clinical outcomes and complications were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, and the effect on quality of life was also assessed using the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) respectively. Results EMA occluded VVS completely, with a shorter operative time, less bleeding and smaller incisions than the HLS procedure. In the EMA group, skin burns were found on 11 limbs (10.2%); sensory alteration and ecchymosis were less; and the recurrence rate of VVS was relatively lower compared with the HLS group. Both groups had significant improvement in VCSS and disease-specific quality of life (AVVQ) postoperatively. There was no significant difference in AVVQ and VCSS scores between the groups. Conclusion EMA is an effective new technique for the treatment of VVS, and had a more satisfactory clinical outcome than HLS in the short term.