Early and mid-term results after endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) of great saphenous vein with a 980 nm diode laser

Sourcerecord Id Scopus 40682 Abstract Aim. Endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) appears to be an useful alternative to conventional surgery in treatment of advanced varicose veins, in ambulatory regimen too. Methods. Over a 1-year period, otherwise unselected consecutive series of 52 GSVs in 40 patients (36 females, 4 males; age 39 to 63 yrs.) with varicose veins due to GSV incompetence (up to 1,2 cm in diameter at the saphenofemoral junction) were included. After selective spinal anaesthesia, laser energy (diode laser 980 nm) was administered endovenously. A laser fiber (δ 600 μ; length 2 m) was inserted from malleolus to sapheno-femoral junction. Laser energy (12-15 J/sec. - 40-80 J/cm 2) was administered either continuously, during constant backpull of the laser fibre, or in a pulsed fashion (on time 1-2 sec.; off time 1 sec.; withdrawing the fibre 1 cm every 1 sec.). Results. Absence of flow on colour Doppler imaging was considered sign of successful occlusion of the GSV. Patients were evaluated clinically and with duplex US at 1 week, 1 month, six months, and 1 year. Successful occlusion of the GSV was noted in 44/52 GSVs (84,6%) after initial treatment. Twenty four of thirty limbs, followed for six months, remained closed (80,0%), and, among these, no recurrence was detected in limbs (20) followed-up at 1 year. Conclusion. Clinical efficacy of EVLT seems to be demonstrated by early, mid and long-term results, from many groups, comparable or superior to those reported for the other treatments of GSV reflux, including surgery.