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Objective Mechanochemical ablation is a novel technique for ablation of varicose veins utilising a rotating catheter and liquid sclerosant. Mechanochemical ablation and radiofrequency ablation have no reported neurological side-effect but the rotating mechanism of mechanochemical ablation may produce microbubbles. Air emboli have been implicated as a cause of cerebrovascular events during ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and microbubbles in the heart during ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy have been demonstrated. This study investigated the presence of microbubbles in the right heart during varicose vein ablation by mechanochemical abaltion and radiofrequency abaltion. Methods Patients undergoing great saphenous vein ablation by mechanochemical abaltion or radiofrequency ablation were recruited. During the ablative procedure, the presence of microbubbles was assessed using transthoracic echocardiogram. Offline blinded image quantification was performed using International Consensus Criteria grading guidelines. Results From 32 recruited patients, 28 data sets were analysed. Eleven underwent mechanochemical abaltion and 17 underwent radiofrequency abaltion. There were no neurological complications. In total, 39% (11/28) of patients had grade 1 or 2 microbubbles detected. Thirty-six percent (4/11) of mechanochemical abaltion patients and 29% (5/17) of radiofrequency ablation patients had microbubbles with no significant difference between the groups (p=0.8065). Conclusion A comparable prevalence of microbubbles between mechanochemical abaltion and radiofrequency ablation both of which are lower than that previously reported for ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy suggests that mechanochemical abaltion may not confer the same risk of neurological events as ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for treatment of varicose veins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Endovenous techniques are, at present, the recommended choice for truncal vein treatment. However, the thermal techniques require tumescent anaesthesia, which can be uncomfortable during administration. Non-tumescent, non-thermal techniques would, therefore, have potential benefits. This randomised controlled trial is being carried out to compare the degree of pain that patients experience while receiving mechanochemical ablation or radiofrequency ablation. The early results of this randomised controlled trial are reported here. Methods Patients attending for the treatment of primary varicose veins were randomised to receive mechanochemical ablation (ClariVein®) or radiofrequency ablation (Covidien® Venefit™). The most symptomatic limb was randomised. The primary outcome measure was intra-procedural pain using a validated visual analogue scale. The secondary outcome measures were change in quality of life and clinical scores, time to return to normal activities and work as well as the occlusion rate. Results One-hundred and nineteen patients have been randomised (60 in the mechanochemical ablation group). Baseline characteristics were similar. Maximum pain score was significantly lower in the mechanochemical ablation group (19.3 mm, standard deviation ±19 mm) compared to the radiofrequency ablation group (34.5 mm ± 23 mm; p < 0.001). Average pain score was also significantly lower in the mechanochemical ablation group (13.4 mm ± 16 mm) compared to the radiofrequency ablation group (24.4 mm ± 18 mm; p = 0.001). Sixty-six percent attended follow-up at one month, and the complete or proximal occlusion rates were 92% for both groups. At one month, the clinical and quality of life scores for both groups had similar improvements. Conclusion Early results show that the mechanochemical ablation is less painful than the radiofrequency ablation procedure. Clinical and quality of life scores were similarly improved at one month. The long-term data including occlusion rates at six months and quality of life scores are being collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Varicose veins (VV) negatively impact quality of life (QoL) and have risks of major complications including bleeding, ulceration and phlebitis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the VSGBI (Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland) and GIRFT (Get It Right First Time) classified VVs as lowest priority for intervention., Objective: This study aims to determine harm caused and the impact on the QoL on patients waiting for their VVs procedures for more than 1 year., Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). Patients with VVs awaiting intervention for >1 year were included in the study. Patients with CEAP C6 disease were considered to be too high risk to be invited for treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic. Patients were sent QoL questionnaires and underwent a telephone consultation to assess harm. Both generic (EQ-VAS and EQ-5D) and disease-specific (AVVQ and CIVIQ-14) instruments were utilised. There were no control groups available for comparison., Results: 275 patients were identified (37.1% male) with median time on waiting list of 60 weeks (IQR 56-65). 19 patients (6.9%) came to major harm, including phlebitis (3.6%), bleeding (1.8%) and ulceration (1.8%). Fifty-two patients (18.9%) had minor harm, including worsening pain (12.7%) and swelling (6.2%). 6.9% reported psychological harm. Rising CEAP stage was also associated with worsening level of harm in patients with C5-6 disease ( p < 0.0001). Only 8.7% stated they would decline surgery during the pandemic. 104 QoL questionnaires were returned. Median EQ-VAS and EQ-5D was 75 (IQR: 60-85) and 0.685 (0.566-0.761), respectively. Median AVVQ score was 23.2 (14.9-31.0) and CIVIQ-14 score was 33 (21-44).ConclusionsThis study highlights the impact of delaying VVs surgery during a pandemic. A significant rate of both major and minor as well as psychological harm was reported. In addition, VVs had a significant detriment to quality of life.

Objectives: The aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis in children with deep venous thrombosis and to evaluate its long-term effect., Method and Results: EMBASE, Medline and Cochrane databases were searched to identify studies in which paediatric acute deep venous thrombosis patients received thrombolysis. Following title and abstract screening, seven cohort studies with a total of 183 patients were identified. Technical success was 82% and superior in regional rather than systemic thrombolysis (p < 0.00001). One cohort study identified significant difference in thrombus resolution at one year between thrombolytic and anticoagulant groups (p = 0.01). The complication rate was low, with incidence rates of major bleeding, pulmonary embolism and others at 2.8%, 1.8% and 8.4%, respectively. The overall post-thrombotic syndrome rate was 12.7%. The incidence of re-thrombosis ranged from 12.3% to 27%., Conclusion: Thrombolysis for paediatric deep venous thrombosis is an effective and relatively safe therapeutic option, lowering the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome and deep venous thrombosis recurrence.

Objectives: The aim is to evaluate venous stent patency, the development of post-thrombotic syndrome, recurrence, quality of life and the optimal post-procedural anticoagulation regimen in the treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis., Method and Results: EMBASE and Medline databases were interrogated to identify studies in which acute deep venous thrombosis patients were stented. Twenty-seven studies and 542 patients were identified. Primary, assisted primary and secondary patency rates 12 months after stent placement ranged from 74 to 95, 90 to 95 and 84 to 100%, respectively. The observed post-thrombotic syndrome rate was 14.6%. The incidence of stent re-thrombosis was 8%. In 26% of studies, patients received additional antiplatelet therapy. Quality of life questionnaires employed in 11% of studies, demonstrating an improvement in the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (22.67 ± 3.01 versus 39.34 ± 6.66)., Conclusion: Venous stenting appears to be an effective adjunct to early thrombus removal; however, further studies are needed to identify optimal anticoagulant regimen and effect on quality of life.

Background Endovenous thermal ablation has revolutionised varicose vein treatment. New non-thermal techniques such as mechanical occlusion chemically assisted endovenous ablation (MOCA) allow treatment of entire trunks with single anaesthetic injections. Previous non-randomised work has shown reduced pain post-operatively with MOCA. This study presents a multi-centre randomised controlled trial assessing the difference in pain during truncal ablation using MOCA and radiofrequency endovenous ablation (RFA) with six months' follow-up. Methods Patients undergoing local anaesthetic endovenous ablation for primary varicose veins were randomised to either MOCA or RFA. Pain scores using Visual Analogue Scale and number scale (0-10) during truncal ablation were recorded. Adjunctive procedures were completed subsequently. Pain after phlebectomy was not assessed. Patients were reviewed at one and six months with clinical scores, quality of life scores and duplex ultrasound assessment of the treated leg. Results A total of 170 patients were recruited over a 21-month period from 240 screened. Patients in the MOCA group experienced significantly less maximum pain during the procedure by Visual Analogue Scale (MOCA median 15 mm (interquartile range 7-36 mm) versus RFA 34 mm (interquartile range 16-53 mm), p = 0.003) and number scale (MOCA median 3 (interquartile range 1-5) versus RFA 4 mm (interquartile range 3-6.5), p = 0.002). ' Average' pain scores were also significantly less in the MOCA group; 74% underwent simultaneous phlebectomy. Occlusion rates, clinical severity scores, disease specific and generic quality of life scores were similar between groups at one and six months. There were two deep vein thromboses, one in each group. Conclusion Pain secondary to truncal ablation is less painful with MOCA than RFA with similar short-term technical, quality of life and safety outcomes.

Management of varicose vein disease has changed drastically over the past decades. Since its introduction in vein practice, surgery has gone through several stages of evolution until the method of ligation with stripping eventually became and remained the standard for a long time. It was found to be effective at treating the condition and, indications of its beneficial impact on patients' quality of life soon also became evident. However, being associated with significant morbidity, surgery gradually fell out of favour, especially, once the newer endovenous techniques were launched around the turn of the century. These endothermal methods allowed procedures to be carried out under local anaesthetic as day case interventions, often with a similar or even better effect on occlusion rates and quality of life. In addition, there is mounting evidence that these newer techniques might be more cost-effective. This review evaluates surgical treatment of varicose veins compared to endovenous methods and also assesses its place in current phlebological practice., (© The Author(s) 2016.)

Varicose veins are common and their management has undergone a number of changes over the years. Surgery has been the traditional treatment option, but towards the 21st century, new endovenous thermal ablation techniques, namely, radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ablation, were introduced which have revolutionised the way varicose veins are treated. These minimally invasive techniques are associated with earlier return to normal activity and less pain, as well as enabling procedures to be carried out as day cases. They are, however, also known to cause a number of side-effects and involve infiltration of tumescent fluid which can cause discomfort. Non-thermal, non-tumescent methods are believed to be the answer to these unwelcome effects. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is one such non-thermal, non-tumescent method and, despite a possible lower occlusion, has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients. The early results of two recently launched non-thermal, non-tumescent methods, mechanochemical ablation and cyanoacrylate glue, are promising and are discussed., (© The Author(s) 2015.)