Evaluation of Effect of Diameter of Saphenous Vein on Stump Length after Radiofrequency Ablation for Varicose Vein

Abstract

Background: There have been tremendous changes to the treatment of varicose veins over the years. High ligation of the SFJ and stripping of the GSV have been considered as standard treatments for GSV insufficiency for more than one century and it is still adopted as the preferred method in the majority of the surgical centers. However, the increase in minimally invasive treatments such as EVLA, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and cryostripping have given excellent results. Most patients undergoing these minimal invasive treatments were satisfied with their results. Objective: To evaluate the effect of diameter of great saphenous vein on stump length after radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins. Methods: In this study we have followed 30 cases underwent RFA and we can say that the results were quite satisfying. After the RF ablation, no major complications occurred (recurrence, recanalization) at the time of the study, minor complications however, were quite common and included bruising /ecchymosis, postoperative pain that required analgesics, superficial thrombophlebitis that was very responsive to medical treatment. Results: Radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins with recently used ClosureFastTM (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) catheter showed that there is no correlation between preoperative diameter of GSV and postoperative length of its stump. Therefore, RFA is continuing to be an outstanding minimal invasive method for treatment of varicose veins with minimal complications and a very short recovery period disregarding the vein diameter which sounds appealing to the patients. ISSN: 2536-9474 (Print) Original article / FYMJ ISSN: 2536-9482 (Online) Fayoum University Medical Journal Abdelhamed et al., 2020,6(1), 75-83 Page 76 Conclusion: The diameter of the saphenous vein has no correlation with the length of stump after RFA. As long as ClosureFastTM (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) catheter was used for ablation with its tip placed 2cm distal to SFJ, under locally injected Tumescent anaethesia.