ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency obliteration and endovenous laser therapy of the greater saphenous vein have recently been introduced as alternative, minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of saphenous vein incompetence. The 7 Fr. VNUS ClosureFAST(R) radiofrequency obliteration system was introduced in Gwang-Ju Veterans hospital. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and complications of radiofrequency obliteration using the 7 Fr. VNUS ClosureFAST(R) system. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between May 2, 2007 and May 31, 2008, we performed radiofrequency obliteration on 90 patients. The number of males was 67 and their mean age was 57.9+/-11.0 (range: 23~78) years old. The patients underwent follow up exams at 3 weeks after the procedures and then every 3 months. The effects of treatment and the complications were reviewed. RESULT: The postoperative complications were ecchymosis (94.4%), pain (27.8%), paresthesia (25.6%), bullous formation (8.9%), edema (6.7%) and phlebitis (2.2%). One patient showed good blood flow after 3 weeks and one patient showed good blood flow after 3 months. The one-year success rate of radiofrequency obliteration in varicose veins was 97.6%. CONCLUSION: Our data showed acceptable operative results and short-term clinical results for treating varicose veins with radio frequency obliteration. Long-term follow-up and comparison of radio frequency obliteration with high ligation and stripping, previous radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser therapy are needed in the future.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Ecchymosis , Edema , Follow-Up Studies , Hospitals, Veterans , Laser Therapy , Ligation , Paresthesia , Phlebitis , Postoperative Complications , Saphenous Vein , Varicose Veins , VeinsABSTRACT
It has not been clear whether L-arginine plays solely a role contributing to vascular nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. To investigate the mechanisms by which L-arginine induces vasorelaxation, effects of L-arginine on the isometric tension, and tissue NOx and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) contents were examined in the isolated rat thoracic aorta. L-Arginine induced a dose-dependent relaxation of aortic rings only with intact endothelium only. The vasorelaxation response to low concentrations of L-arginine was abolished by the pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10-4 mol/L), whereas the relaxation caused by higher concentrations L-arginine (10-5-10-3 mol/L) was maintained and even more pronounced in the presence of L-NAME. L-Arginine did not affect the vascular tension precontracted with KCl. The vascular tissue contents of NOx/cGMP were not significantly affected by L-arginine, while they were decreased by L-NAME. L-Arginine could not completely recover the NOx/cGMP decreased by L-NAME. Methylene blue only partially antagonized the relaxation response to L-arginine. Indomethacin did not affect the L-arginine-induced vasorelaxation, whereas ouabain markedly attenuated the relaxation. It is suggested that L-arginine induces vasorelaxation not only through its contribution to NO synthesis, but also through enhancing another endothelium-dependent mechanism which is NO/cGMP-independent and cyclooxygenase- independent.