Abstract

Objective: In this retrospective study, we aimed to compare the short- term and mid- term clinical outcomes of endovenous laser ablation with traditional surgical treatment (high ligation and saphenectomy of Vena Saphena Magna) in patients with isolated unilateral symptomatic Vena Saphena Magna insufficiency.
Materials and Methods: Sixty five patients who underwent traditional surgical treatment (Group 1; n: 35; 16 women, 19 men, mean age; 44.3 ± 12.6 years, range; 20 - 68 years) and endovenous laser ablation treatment (Group 2; n = 30; 20 women, 10 men, mean age; 39.8 ± 11.7 years, range; 20 - 65 years) between May 2013 and December 2013 were included in the study. Groups were compared according to their differences.
Results: Pain scores of EVLA patients were significantly lower at postoperative first week and first month (p< 0.01), whereas, there was no significant difference preoperatively. No patient stated to have pain at postoperative 6th month. Frequency of complication development of EVLA patients was found to be lower at postoperative first week follow up but there was no statistically significant difference at 1st month and 6th month controls. CEAP scores of EVLA patients were significantly lower at postoperative follow-ups but there was no significant difference preoperatively.
Conclusion: We observed that endovenous laser ablation is a better treatment modality with better short and mid-term outcomes than traditional surgical treatment in isolated symptomatic unilateral Vena Saphena Magna insufficiencies.

Key words: Vena Saphena Magna Insufficiency; Saphenectomy; Endovenous Laser Ablation.