Is there a risk for lymphatic complications after endovenous laser treatment versus cryostripping of the great saphenous vein? A prospective study.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether lymphatic complications occur after endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) versus cryostripping.

METHODS

A prospective analysis of patients who underwent lymphoscintigraphy before and six months after treatment of primary varicose veins.

RESULTS

Of 120 patients randomized in a clinical trial comparing EVLT and cryostripping, 33 agreed to participate in this study. Six months after treatment, none of the 17 patients treated with EVLT and one (6.3%) of the 16 patients treated with cryostripping had clinical grade 1 lymphoedema, with marked disruption of the lymphatics around the knee. This patient also showed an abnormal uptake of radioactive tracer at the groin, 120 min after injection.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that no lymphatic complications occurred six months after EVLT, whereas one lymphatic complication occurred after cryostripping, however not in the groin but at the knee.