Proebstle TM, Alm BJ, Göckeritz O, Wenzel C, Noppeney T, Lebard C, Sessa C, Creton D, Pichot O, et al.
The British journal of surgery. Date of publication 2015 Feb 1;volume 102(3):212-8.
1. Br J Surg. 2015 Feb;102(3):212-8. doi: 10.1002/bjs.9679.
Five-year results from the prospective European multicentre cohort study on
radiofrequency segmental thermal ablation for incompetent great saphenous veins.
Proebstle TM(1), Alm BJ, Göckeritz O, Wenzel C, Noppeney T, Lebard C, Sessa C,
Creton D, Pichot O.
Author information:
(1)Department of Dermatology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
BACKGROUND: This was a prospective study of radiofrequency segmental thermal
ablation (RFA) for the treatment of incompetent varicose great saphenous veins
(GSVs). The present report describes long-term follow-up at 5 years.
METHODS: The 5-year follow-up of this multicentre European study included
assessment of the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and GSV occlusion and
reflux on duplex imaging.
RESULTS: A total of 225 patients had 295 GSVs treated by RFA, achieving an
initial vein occlusion rate of 100 per cent. With 80·0 per cent compliance,
Kaplan-Meier analyses showed a GSV occlusion rate of 91·9 per cent and a
reflux-free rate of 94·9 per cent at 5 years. Among the 15 GSVs noted with
reflux during follow-up, only three showed full recanalization of the GSV at 1
week, 6 months and 3 years. Of the 12 legs with partial recanalization, reflux
originated at the saphenofemoral junction in ten, with a mean length of the
patent segment of 5·8 (range 3·2-10) cm; only six patients were symptomatic.
Mean(s.d.) VCSS scores improved from 3·9(2·1) at baseline to 0·6(1·2), 0·9(1·3)
and 1·3(1·7) at 1, 3 and 5 years.
CONCLUSION: At 5 years RFA proved to be an efficient endovenous treatment for
incompetent GSVs in terms of sustained clinical and anatomical success for the
vast majority of treated patients.
© 2015 The Authors. BJS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of BJS
Society Ltd.
DOI: 10.1002/bjs.9679
PMCID: PMC4328454
PMID: 25627262 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
