Pain Following 980-nm Endovenous Laser Ablation and Segmental Radiofrequency Ablation for Varicose Veins: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain following endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and identify risk factors for increased pain. Patients undergoing either segmental RFA (VNUS Closure Fast, VNUS Medical Technologies, San Jose, California) or EVLA (980 nm) for varicose veins completed a preoperative disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire [AVVQ]) and a diary card recording postoperative pain, return to normal activities, and return to work. Median 3- and 10-day pain scores were calculated. In all, 81 patients returned diary cards (RFA = 45, EVLA = 36). Patients receiving RFA reported less postoperative pain than those receiving EVLA at 3 days (14.5 vs 25.8 mm, P = .053, Mann-Whitney U test) and 10 days (13 vs 23.3 mm, P = .014, Mann-Whitney U test) and returned to work earlier than those receiving EVLA (median 5 vs 9 days, P = .022). Patients treated with segmental RFA had less postoperative pain and returned to work quicker than those treated with EVLA.