Incidence of Nerve Injury after Endovenous Laser Ablation

Abstract

The incidence of nerve injury after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) was investigated. Patients with incompetent great saphenous veins (1513 legs) underwent EVLA using 1470 nm diode laser connecting with radial 2-ring fibers. Nerve injury is defined as if a patient feels any neurologic symptoms at 1 month after the surgery. Nerve injury was occurred in 47 legs (3.1%). The incidence was 1.3% when the ablation length was less than 40 cm, thus, 5.2% when it was over or equal to 40 cm. One year after the surgery, 92% of the patients revealed relief of neurological symptoms.