PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ENDOVENOUS LASER TREATMENT FOR SAPHENOUS VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY IN HUE CENTRAL HOSPITAL

Saphenous venous insufficency (VI) is more and more common. This disease is diagnosed by clinical symptoms and doppler US. In the last decade, ligation and stripping was main treatment modalities. Recently, there are many alternative methods for this disease such as sclerotherapy, thermal therapies… Laser is one of effective procedure for VI. Objective: To evaluate short-term outcomes of endovenous laser ablation for the treatment of saphenous venous insufficiency. Methods: This retrospective study included 124 patients at C2 stage and above (CEAP classification) who underwent endovenous laser ablation at Hue Central Hospital from 12/2014 to 02/2017. Results: The patients’ average median age was 52 ± 12.18. Patients with great saphenous insufficency were 98.4% (181 limbs) and only 1.6% with small saphenous disease. Most of them were treated with laser wavelength at 1470nm, power at 6-10W. There were 82 patients needed phlebectomy (Muller) and 20 patients associated with sclerotherapy. Most of cases underwent local anesthesia. The initial outcomes of the patient are excelent, there were no major complication related to the procedure. Most of patient were no pain significantly after treatment. The number of patient with mild (no need of antalgics) and severe pain (needed fort antalgics for 5 days) due to laser ablation were 4 cases and 1 case, respectively. Patients could return to daily activities at the day after. A follow – up postoperative ultrasound after 10 days: 100% of cases presented sclerosant veins and no intravenous flow, no deep venous thrombose. There were no recurrence at 3 and 6 month of medical revisit. Conclusion: Endovenous laser treatment was proven as a method of preference for chronic vein insufficiency because of its advandtages such as minimal invasive technique, high successive percentage, least of complication, high aesthetics and early to return daily activities. Key words: Saphenous venous insufficency (VI), laser, endovenous laser ablation