A Comparison of 1,470-nm Endovenous Laser Ablation and Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Great Saphenous Veins 10 mm or More in Size

Background To compare 1,470-nm endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of patients with great saphenous vein diameters of 10 mm or more. Methods One hundred twenty consecutive patients presenting to the cardiovascular surgery department with a great saphenous vein diameter exceeding 10 mm at the saphenofemoral junction between January and December 2013 were included in the study. The first randomly selected 60 patients (group 1) received 1,470-nm EVLA and the other 60 patients (group 2) received RFA. Patients were assessed on the second day, the first week, and the first, third, and sixth months. Major and minor complications were recorded. Results Minor complications in EVLA and RFA were hyperemia at 20% and 30% ( P = 0.50), ecchymosis at 16.7% and 48.3% ( P = 0.02), and edema at 40.0% and 65.5% ( P