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Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2021 Mar;53(2):332-336

Department of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.

Objective: To explore the technical details and short-term effects of radiofrequency obliteration of varicose veins of lower extremities guided by combined venography and ultrasound.

Methods: Thirty-seven patients with varicose veins of lower extremities were treated with radiofrequency obliteration using Olympus Celon RFiTT under combined guidance of venography and ultrasound. The indications included varicose veins of lower extremities and reflux of the great saphenous vein confirmed by ultrasound. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021 Mar 9. Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Divisions of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the great saphenous vein (GSV) length of segment ablated and diameter with symptom improvement.

Methods: Data from a multicenter, randomized, controlled prospective study of 242 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or cyanoacrylate closure (CAC) of the GSV were analyzed. The venous clinical severity score (VCSS) was measured at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after ablation. Read More

Int J Hyperthermia 2020 ;37(1):1238-1247

Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France.

Background: Varicose veins are a common disease that may significantly affect quality of life. Different approaches are currently used in clinical practice to treat this pathology.

Materials And Methods: In thermal therapy (radiofrequency or laser therapy), the vein is directly heated to a high temperature to induce vein wall coagulation, and the heat induces denaturation of the intramural collagen, which results macroscopically in vein shrinkage. Read More

Laryngoscope 2021 03 10;131(3):566-570. Epub 2020 Aug 10.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Objective: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of transoral radiofrequency coblation surgery (TRS) in the treatment of adult laryngopharyngeal vascular lesion (LVL).

Methods: A total of 15 patients with LVL were retrospectively studied, including 11 capillary lesions and five cavernous lesions (there was one case with two separate lesions). All of the lesions were treated with TRS alone (capillary lesion) or with a combination of TRS and sclerotherapy (cavernous lesion). Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2021 Jan 27;70:109-115. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

Background: Venous leg ulceration (VLU) represents the most advanced form of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Persistent VLU that fails to respond to noninvasive treatment requires a minimally invasive endovascular treatment, which may include chemical (ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy [UGFS]) and thermal ablation (endovenous laser therapy [EVLT] or radiofrequency ablation [RFA]) targeting incompetent veins. Current guidelines suggest ablation of incompetent perforating veins (IPVs) juxtaposed to active or healed VLU; however, the ideal treatment modality is unknown. Read More

Med Arch 2020 Apr;74(2):100-104

Department of Radiology, Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Introduction: Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a chronic condition, triggered by reflux through the saphenous vein network.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of endovenous laser ablation (LA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for CVI treatment in the lower extremities, at the Bach Mai Radiology Center.

Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board of Bach Mai Hospital. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021 01 1;9(1):137-145. Epub 2020 May 1.

Department for Dermatology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.

Objective: Although many studies have demonstrated that endovenous therapies have comparable efficacy to crossectomy and stripping, few studies have been published regarding the classification and recurrence patterns of varicose veins after endovenous therapy. This study attempted to provide an objective scheme for the definition and classification of recurrence. Moreover, it describes the types and rates of recurrence after endovenous thermal ablation, as well as factors associated with recurrence. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2020 Oct 25;68:172-178. Epub 2020 Apr 25.

Phlebolymphology Unit, General Surgery Department, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Background: To describe the occlusion rate and clinical response of a redo ablative procedure in symptomatic patients with recanalization of saphenous vein after endovascular thermal ablation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed in a prospectively collected data of symptomatic patients with recanalization of the great saphenous vein (GSV) or small saphenous vein (SSV) after endovascular thermal ablation who underwent a secondary ablation (SA) from June 2015 to May 2018.

Results: Ten patients (15 limbs) with recanalization of the GSV or SSV were treated with SA. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020 11 19;8(6):1021-1024. Epub 2020 Apr 19.

Vascular Institute of New York, Brooklyn, NY.

Objective: Lower extremity endovenous ablation has become the primary treatment modality for symptomatic venous reflux disease. Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) has been reported as one of the primary complications of these venous ablative procedures. Our aim was to determine how long EHITs take to resolve and the factors affecting this length of time. Read More

Phlebology 2020 Sep 19;35(8):561-565. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Objectives: F-care (endovenous radiofrequency, F Care Systems, Antwerp, Belgium) is a relatively new radiofrequency ablation technique for the treatment of venous insufficiency. There is a lack of published data about F-care in literature. This study aimed to prospectively compare the F-care method with conventional endovenous radiofrequency ablation Closurefast method for the management of incompetent great saphenous veins. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2020 ;91:61-64

Aim: The traditional surgical treatment for lower limb primary varicosity has been for a long time high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and stripping of great saphenous vein. Surgery, however, has been frustrated by postoperative pains and discomfort and recurrences so that it has been challenged by minimally invasive endovenous techniques such as laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation. The aim of the article is to assess the feasibility, in a day hospital setting, of a combined approach to greater saphenous vein reflux: high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and thermal treatment of the great sapenous vein. Read More

Int J Hyperthermia 2020 ;37(1):231-244

Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, ESPCI Paris, CNRS, PSL Research University, Paris, France.

Varicose veins are a common pathology that can be treated by endovenous thermal procedures like radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Such catheter-based techniques consist in raising the temperature of the vein wall to 70 to 120 °C to induce vein wall coagulation. Although effective, this treatment option is not suited for all types of veins and can be technically challenging. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020 07 21;8(4):601-609. Epub 2020 Feb 21.

Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Ind.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of three treatment modalities, superficial truncal vein ablation, perforator vein ablation, and deep venous stenting on venous leg ulcer (VLU) healing, as well as their cumulative effect on ulcer healing, in an attempt to establish the best algorithm for the treatment of chronic and recalcitrant VLUs.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective cohort study using a standardized database to evaluate patients with chronic venous ulcers treated between January 2013 and December 2017.

Results: Eight-hundred thirty-two consecutive patients with VLU were identified at 11 centers in the United States. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020 05 14;8(3):472-481.e3. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Department of Surgery, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.

Objective: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared different interventions for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) management, but mixed comparison of these interventions is lacking. The aim of this network meta-analysis was to compare VenaSeal closure system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn) with endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), mechanochemical ablation, sclerotherapy, and surgery for management of CVI to achieve anatomic success (complete closure of treated vein within 6 months after intervention) as the primary outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQoL; EuroQol-5 Dimension, Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire), Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), pain scores, and adverse events as secondary outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review of journal databases was undertaken, and RCTs between January 1996 and September 2018 comparing different treatment options were included. Read More

G Chir 2019 Sep-Oct;40(5):413-416

Aim: For long time the traditional surgical treatment for lower limb varicose veins has been high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and stripping of great saphenous vein. Surgery, however, has been frustrated by postoperative pains, discomfort and recurrences so that it has been challenged by minimally invasive endovenous techniques such as laser treatment and radiofrequency ablation. The aim of the article is to assess the feasibility of a combined approach to greater saphenous vein reflux: high ligation of sapheno-femoral junction and thermal treatment of the great saphenous vein. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2020 05 14;8(3):452-457. Epub 2019 Dec 14.

Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Objective: Endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most popular techniques for correcting superficial vein reflux. However, the effectiveness of RFA of superficial vein reflux in patients with active or healed venous leg ulcer (VLU) is unknown. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to evaluate the healing rate, the recurrence rate, and the factors significantly associated with healing and recurrence in patients with active or healed VLU who had superficial venous reflux treated with RFA. Read More

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2020 01 18;59(1):73-80. Epub 2019 Nov 18.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Oulu University Hospital, Finland.

Objective: To compare post-operative compression with no compression, after radiofrequency endothermal ablation (RFA) of a truncal varicose vein and concomitant foam sclerotherapy of the tributaries.

Methods: This prospective randomised controlled, non-inferiority trial recruited patients from two centres in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland. Patients with clinical class C2-C4 chronic venous disease were randomised to receive no compression after the operation, or to receive compression stockings continuously for two days, and then, during the daytime for five days. Read More

Ann Ital Chir 2019 ;90:457-462

Purpose: Superficial venous insufficiency is a common problem associated with varicose veins. In addition to classical symptoms, it may result in skin changes, venous ulcers and has a great impact on patients' health-related quality of life. In the last decade, minimally invasive techniques such as endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) have been developed as alternatives to surgery in an attempt to reduce morbidity and improve efficiency. Read More

Ann Vasc Surg 2020 Feb 26;63:454.e11-454.e15. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Department of Phlebolymphology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Endovenous ablation techniques (radiofrequency or laser) have become the less invasive choice of treatment for superficial venous insufficiency due to saphenous vein incompetence showing high effectiveness and few complications. We present a case of symptomatic arteriovenous fistula between the external iliac artery and vein after endovenous laser ablation repaired with covered stent. We also review the literature and discuss the possible causes and management of this unusual and potentially severe complication, and the feasibility of endovascular treatment. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2019 09;7(5):699-705

Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Objective: We aimed to compare mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) and thermal ablation (radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser therapy) for venous ulcer healing in patients with clinical class 6 chronic venous insufficiency.

Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed of patients with venous ulcers who underwent truncal or perforator ablation between February 2012 and November 2015. These records contained history of venous disease and ulcer history, procedures, complications, follow-up, method of wound care, and current status of the ulcer. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2019 09;7(5):685-692

Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn. Electronic address:

Objective: Venous ablation (VA) is the recommended treatment of superficial venous insufficiency affecting the lower extremities. The safety and efficacy of the procedure in octogenarians have not been well studied. We postulate that VA in octogenarians is as safe and effective as in younger age groups. Read More

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2019 Aug;29(8):746-748

Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Stadium Road, Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for varicose veins.

Study Design: Observational case series.

Place And Duration Of Study: Section of Vascular Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2016 to August 2018. Read More

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2019 09 24;58(3):401-408. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Worcester, UK.

Objective: To date there has been no comparison of outcomes of endovenous radiofrequency (RF) devices. The 3-RF trial is the first randomised controlled trial of three commercially available RF ablation technologies.

Methods: Patients were recruited [182/302 patients with great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence] into a prospective double blind randomised trial of Venefit, radiofrequency induced thermal therapy (RFITT), and endovenous radiofrequency (EVRF). Read More

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2019 Sep 24;58(3):410-414. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

Department of Vascular Surgery, King's College Hospital, London, UK. Electronic address:

Objectives: This study aims to assess the efficacy and outcomes at one year after office based endovenous radiofrequency ablation (OBEVRFA) as a standalone procedure for varicose veins under local anaesthesia.

Methods: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data of all OBEVRFAs done in the vascular unit from April 2014 to June 2016 was performed. The demographics, clinical findings, initial venous duplex ultrasound (DUS) findings, the vein ablated, and immediate complications were recorded. Read More

Rozhl Chir 2019 ;98(6):248-251

Introduction: Catheter-Based Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) is a commonly used alternative to surgical treatment of varicose veins. Recently, catheterization methods have proved to be methods of choice due to the preference of patients who value minimal invasiveness. Research of EVLA currently focuses on optimization of the procedure, which includes study of the benefits of the individual types of laser generators and the wavelengths used. Read More

Int Angiol 2019 Aug 5;38(4):291-298. Epub 2019 Jul 5.

Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Introduction: Lower limb varicose veins can be treated effectively with endovenous ablation procedures or with minimally invasive open techniques. However, these procedures may cause pain and discomfort, and surgical stripping can be associated with long recovery times. We investigated whether venoactive drugs (VAD) used to treat chronic venous disease (CVD), provide benefits to patients recovering from a surgical or endovenous varicose vein procedure. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2019 07;7(4):486-492

Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill. Electronic address:

Objective: The mechanism of delivering thermal energy to the vein wall differs between endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Different mechanisms of ablation may have different effects on the durability of these procedures typically performed for saphenous vein insufficiency. Whether there is a difference in long-term durability outcomes between these two techniques remains uncertain. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 06 4;144(11):705-708. Epub 2019 Jun 4.

Praxis für Gefäßmedizin, Freiburg.

Endovenous Laser Ablation: Treatment with longer wavelengths and radial fibers should be used.

Radiofrequency Ablation: Results after 5 years show a very good efficacy and safety.

Further Endovenous Treatments: Data is limited. Read More

J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2019 05;7(3):364-374

Department of Surgery, Rijnstate, Arnhem, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Objective: Endothermal techniques have proved to be effective for treatment of incompetent truncal veins. The tumescentless mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) technique has become an alternative treatment modality, but its outcome with regard to endothermal techniques is still unclear.

Methods: A multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial was designed comparing MOCA with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to treat great saphenous vein incompetence with the hypothesis that MOCA is associated with less postprocedural pain and a comparable anatomic and clinical success rate at 1-year follow-up. Read More

Br J Surg 2019 04;106(5):548-554

Department of Vascular Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.

Background: A variety of minimally invasive techniques are available for the treatment of varicose great saphenous vein (GSVs). Non-tumescent, non-thermal ablation methods have been developed. This study compared mechanochemical ablation (MOCA), a non-tumescent, non-thermal ablation technique, with two endovenous thermal ablation methods requiring tumescence in an RCT. Read More