ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate therapeutic results of endovenous radiofrequency in combination with TriVex in treatment of venous insufficiency in lower extremities.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and fifty patients with chronic venous insufficiency (150 limbs) were randomly assigned to Group A (75 limbs) and Group B (75 limbs). Patients in Group A were treated with long saphenous veins radiofrequency ablation procedures in combination with TriVex. Patients in Group B were treated with long saphenous veins traditional stripping operation in combination with TriVex. The postoperative pain, average hospital stay and short-term results in hospital were compared between the two groups. Self-assessment of the operation 4 weeks after, changes of CEAP classification, venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (CIVIQ) score were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The operation time in Group A was (67 +/- 11) min, compared with (59 +/- 9) min in Group B (P > 0.05). Postoperative pain and average hospital stay in Group A were significantly lower than those in Group B (P < 0.05). The scores of self-assessment of the operation in Group A was higher than that in Group B 4 weeks after operation (P < 0.05). The change of CEAP classification, VCSS and quality of life were significant after operation in both groups. The VCSS of Group A decreased by 4.6 +/- 2.5 compared with 4.3 +/- 2.7 in Group B (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endovenous radiofrequency combined with TriVex for treatment of venous insufficiency in lower extremity is available, effective and with less trauma and faster recovery. CEAP classification, VCSS and CIVIQ are useful tools for assessing outcomes after radiofrequency in these patients.</p>