Abstract
Objective: Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has been covered by the Japanese Health system since 2011. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of interventions for varicose veins after the introduction of EVLA in 2012 at this hospital.
Methods: From January 2012 to March 2017, 602 surgeries for varicose veins (530 patients and 683 limbs) were studied. Surgeries were as follows: 495 EVLA, 196 high ligation, 4 stripping, and 22 perforator ligation (alone) operations. The main preoperative risk factors were hypertension (31.3%), cardiovascular disease (13.6%), cerebrovascular disease (4.7%), and old age (over 80 years old) (7.2%). The patients were as sessed by clinical examination and venous duplex ultrasonography at 2 days, 1 week, and 1 month of fol low-up under team medical care.
Results: Four postoperative complications (0.7%), 3 EHIT class 3 cases and 1 hematoma requiring resection, were observed. Four re-interventions were needed after high ligations, but no re-interventions were needed after EVLA.
Conclusion: The interventions for varicose veins were satisfactory. In the EVLA era, team medical care may be important for patients with preoperative risk factors.
