2014 Volume 25 Issue 4 Pages 386-390
Objective: This study was designed to assess the necessity of treatment of branch varicose veins after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) for insufficient saphenous vein. Methods: From January to March 2013, 98 patients (108 limbs) with primary varicose veins for the insufficient saphenous vein (91 great saphenous vein (GSV) and 17 small saphenous vein (SSV), 42 men and 56 women, mean age 68 years old, mean GSV diameter 6.5 ± 1.5 mm, mean SSV diameter 5.9 ± 1.4 mm, mean diameter of maximum branch varicose vein 5.4 ± 2.6 mm) underwent EVLA without concomitant microphlebectomy or sclerotherapy. We evaluated improvement of symptoms and size reduction in visible varicosities 2 months after operation. Results: Mean length of ablated GSV and SSV were 39.2 ± 12.8 cm and 17.0 ± 4.1 cm, respectively. A complete resolution of branch varicose vein was found in 11 limbs (10.2%), reduction in size in 97 limbs (89.8%), and no change in no limb. Additional sclerotherapy for branch varicose veins was needed in 7 limbs (6.5%) for cosmetic reason. Conclusion: EVLA alone for the insufficient shapenous vein result in improvement of symptoms and visible varicosities regression in more than half of the cases at two months after EVLA. However, complete resolution could be seen in only a few cases. Further observation will be needed to evaluate the necessity of treatment of branch varicosities.
