Abstract:

This study aimed to show outcomes and side effects after endovenous laser ablation of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSV) with a 1470 nm Diode laser under real-world conditions. A before-after observational study was conducted on 814 patients (1089 lower limbs) with GSV who underwent endovenous laser ablation using 1470 nm from July 2016 to November 2022 at Cardiology Center, Military Hospital 103. The patients were assessed for disease severity using clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathological (CEAP) scores and venous clinical severity scores (VCSS). The Chronic Venous Insufficiency Quality of Life Questionnaire 20 (CIVIQ-20) pre- and post-operatively measured the quality of life. Patient-reported outcome measures were collected at follow-up one month after discharge. 814 cases with a mean age of 59.60 ± 13.49 years were studied (61.8% female). One month after laser ablation, patients with a CEAP clinical class C2 decreased significantly compared to the before (15.5% versus 52.3%; p <0.01, respectively). None of the patients with class C3 and C6 were observed. The VCSS and CIVIQ-20 scores after laser treatment decreased significantly compared to before (2.74 ± 1.79 versus 6.70 ± 2.37 and 24.59 ± 3.05 versus 35.90 ± 8.95; p <0.01). The common complications were ecchymoses (34.2%), induration (9.1%), dysesthesia (0.5%) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (0.1%). Endovenous laser ablation effectively improves clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with GSV incompetence. It is a valid, minimally invasive procedure for treating GSV incompetence with minimal complications and a short recovery period.

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