Intravenous Catheter-Guided Laser Ablation: A Novel Alternative for Branch Varicose Veins

Abstract

It is difficult to manage tributary varicose veins with endovenous laser ablation. Using the intravenous catheter-guided laser fiber to ablate the tributary varicose veins has been proposed. From April 2004 to December 2009, we randomly assigned 134 patients with 170 limbs for laser therapy, of which, 89 limbs in 74 patients were treated with laser ablation. The residual tortuous veins were abolished with the intravenous catheter-guided laser ablation (ICLA group), whereas residual varicose veins in 81 limbs in 60 patients were treated by stab avulsion (SA group). Patients were followed up with the median of 44.5 months after surgery. The outcomes and durability of treatment in both groups were evaluated. The primary end point was recurrence of varicose veins. In comparison with the SA group, patients in the ICLA group had fewer surgical incisions and morbidity, a shorter hospital stay, and returned to normal activity earlier. The overall 5-year recurrence of varicose veins was infrequent in the ICLA group but was much higher in the SA group (5.4% versus 20%, P = 0.022). ICLA provided better outcomes than conventional SA in managing the branched varicose veins and may be an alternative for the treatment of branch varicose veins.