Comparative Study of Endovenous Laser Treatment with Different Laser Wavelength for Saphenous Vein Incompetence

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Limited data is available about the relative effects of laser wavelengths when conducting endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) for saphenous vein incompetence. We performed this study to compare the safety and efficacy between EVLT with using an 810 nm and a 1,320 nm laser. METHODS: 147 incompetent saphenous veins in 101 consecutive patients who were treated with EVLT were included in this study. We divided them into two groups 810 in the nm laser group (Group A 85 saphenous veins in 52 patients) and 1,320 in the nm laser group (Group B 62 saphenous veins in 49 patients). The patients were evaluated with Doppler sonography to evaluate the results of the treatment at 1 and 3 months after the procedure. Symptomatic improvement was compared between the groups according to the venous clinical severity score (VCSS), the Averdeen varicose vein symptom severity score (AVSS), the complications, the recurrences and the recanlization rate. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in an average linear endovenous energy density (LEED) between two groups. During the mean follow-up of 139 days in Group A and 116 days in Group B, more complications occurred in Group A (42.3%) than that in Group B (32.7%). The postoperative clinical improvement was similar between the two groups for the VCSS and AVSS. The ultrasonography (USG)-proved recanalizaton rates at postoperative 1 and 3 months were 1.2% and 4.3% in Group A and 1.6% and 1.9% in Group B, respectively. Recurrences occurred in only 2 cases in Group A. CONCLUSION: EVLT with a 1,320 nm laser had a tendency to develop fewer complications, recurrences and USG-proven recanalizations of the saphenous veins. Long-term data from large randomized prospective trials is needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of this operative procedure.