Aim: Superficial venous incompetence represents a significant health concern affecting a substantial portion of the population, often leading to diminished quality of life and increased healthcare costs. The traditional surgical approaches have increasingly given way to minimally invasive endovenous treatments, which have become standard practice in many clinical settings. These treatments aim to either thermally ablate the affected veins using energy sources like radiofrequency (RFA) or occlude them with adhesives such as N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate (NBCA), thereby restoring venous function.
Material and Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed data from patients treated between 2021 and 2024 for great saphenous vein incompetence using RFA (VNUS® ClosureFAST) and NBCA (VenaBLOCK). A total of 80 patients met inclusion criteria, with 40 in each treatment group. Preoperative evaluations included demographic data, CEAP classification, and vein diameter, while perioperative data encompassed procedural duration and patient-reported discomfort. Postoperative outcomes examined included analgesic use, complications (notably phlebitis), hospital stay duration, and vein closure rates at 6 months.
Results: Study results indicated comparable efficacy between RFA and NBCA in achieving vein closure, with occlusion rates of 94.2% and 92.1%, respectively. The NBCA group demonstrated significantly shorter procedural times and hospital stays compared to RFA, reflecting the advantages of using a non-thermal, adhesive-based approach under local anesthesia. However, both methods showed minimal postoperative complications, primarily consisting of superficial phlebitis localized at the puncture site.
Conclusion: In conclusion, both RFA and NBCA present viable options for treating superficial venous incompetence, offering satisfactory outcomes with acceptable complication rates, albeit with procedural differences that should be weighed against patient-specific factors and institutional capabilities. Future research should focus on expanding these findings through rigorous prospective investigations to further refine clinical practice and enhance patient care.
Key words: Superficial venous insufficiency, N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate, radiofrequency ablation
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