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Treatment of varicose veins of lower limb: A prospective randomized comparison of radiofrequency ablation and conventional surgery

  • Prospective Comparative Study
  • Published:
Hellenic Journal of Surgery

Abstract

Objectives

To compare the effectiveness of conventional surgery and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of varicose veins as regards 1) duration of procedure, 2) postoperative pain, 3) complications, 4) duration of stay in hospital and 5) return to normal routine work.

Methods

A prospective comparative study in which 60 patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups for treatment of varicose veins: conventional surgery and radiofrequency ablation. Each treatment group comprised 30 patients. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The p-value was found to be significant for duration of surgery (0.00), duration of stay in hospital (0.00), average pain score (0.00), average intake of oral analgesics (0.00), ambulation period (0.00) and resumption of normal activities (0.00) in the RFA group. Complications did not vary significantly between groups.

Conclusion

Compared to Stripping and Ligation, RFA provides a number of benefits including less pain and lower cost.

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Abbreviations

CVI:

Chronic Venous Insufficiency

DVT:

Deep Vein Thrombosis

EVLT:

Endo Venous Laser Therapy

GSV:

Great Saphenous Vein

POD:

Post Operative Day

RFA:

Radio Frequency Ablation

SFJ:

Saphenofemoral Junction

SL:

Stripping Ligation

SPJ:

Saphenopopliteal Junction

TIPP:

Transilluminated Power Phlebectomy

VAS:

Visual Analogue Scale

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and PGIMER, New Delhi, India

    Poras Chaudhary

Authors
  1. Sunil Kumar Singh
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  2. Poras Chaudhary
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  3. Sachin Khandelwal
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  4. Devadatta Poddar
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  5. Upendra C. Biswal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Poras Chaudhary.

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Singh, S.K., Chaudhary, P., Khandelwal, S. et al. Treatment of varicose veins of lower limb: A prospective randomized comparison of radiofrequency ablation and conventional surgery. Hellenic J Surg 86, 347–354 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13126-014-0158-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13126-014-0158-1

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