Endovenous Laser Therapy Versus Radiofrequency Ablation of the Long Saphenous Vein; Analysis of the Early Postoperative Complications

Abstract Background: Ligation and stripping was the most fre-quently used therapeutic option in the treatment of varicose veins. However, with the technological advances, there has been a lot of evolving minimally invasive techniques using endovenous methods with a lot of ongoing research into their efficacy in treating the disease and the possible complications. The most commonly used endovenous ablation techniques are endovenous laser and radiofrequency. Aim of Study: To compare between early postoperative complications in Endovenous laser therapy versus radiofre-quency ablation of the great saphenous vein. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective cohort study which includes patients presented to Egyptian Railway Medical Center vascular clinic between Jan. 2019 to Jan. 2021 with primary lower limb(s) varicose veins, and undergoing endov-enous thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups; endovenous laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation. Comparison between the 2 groups was done regarding successful ablation rate, post-operative complications and improvement of symptoms. Results: 43 patients were included in our study, 18 patients underwent radiofrequency ablation and 25 patients underwent endovenous laser ablation. On comparing both techniques with regards to successful ablation, minor postoperative complication and improvement of symptoms, EVLA was found to be superior to RFA. Patient's demographics, medical comorbidities of both groups were not significantly different. Conclusion: Endovenous thermal ablation is becoming more popular in management of varicose veins. Both EVLA and RFA have comparable results, with less incidence of thrombophlebitis in EVLA.