Our Experience with Radiofrequency Ablation of Varicose Veins of the Lower Extremities

Abstract

Purpose -the analysis of the results of application of radiofrequency ablation (rFA) for the treatment of the patients presenting with varicose veins of the lower extremities. Material and methods. rFA was used to treat 78 patients: 68 (87,2%) women and 10 (12,8%) men at the age from 28 to 58 years suffering from varicose veins of the lower extremities (83 interventions). 60 patients presented with C2 clinical class disease, 7 and 1 patients with C3 and C4a clinical classes respectively. rFA was performed in an automated regime differing from that recommended by the standard guidelines only in that 3 cycles were used per each vein segment and even 4 cycles over the entire length of the vessels having the diameter of more than 10 mm. Results. 35 patients underwent ultrasound monitoring following rFA on days 2, 7 and in 3, 6, 12, 24 months after the procedure. recanalization of the GsV trunk occurred in 2 (2.6%) cases within 2 and 3 months after rFA respectively. In one of these patients, recanalization was associated with the incompetence of the perforator vein in the lower third of the thigh. In 5 cases, rFA was complicated by persistent hyperpigmentation, as a rule in the patients with a large diameter of GsV. hyperpigmentation resolved within 6-8 months after its appearance. In the remaining cases, complete obliteration of the vessels occurred, and they could not be visualized in the ultrasound study after 8-10 months. Conclusion. the application of rFA for the combined treatment of the patients presenting with varicose veins of the lower extremities has beneficial effect on the outcome of this disease.