1470 nm diode laser for endovenous ablation (EVLA) of incompetent saphenous veins - a prospective randomized pilot study comparing warm and cold tumescence anaesthesia.

BACKGROUND

Major side effects after endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) are pain and bruising. Low temperature of the tumescence fluid might cause additional venous constriction and a cooling effect around the vein. The aim of this study was to show outcome and side effects after EVLA of incompetent great saphenous veins (GSV) with a 1470 nm Diode laser (Ceralas E, biolitec) using cold or warm tumescence fluid for anaesthesia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between August and November 2007, 85 consecutive patients (85 legs) with an incompetent GSV were treated by EVLA. The patients were randomized in two groups. In 42 patients (Group A) a warm (37 degrees C) and in 43 patients (Group B) a cold (5 degrees C) tumescence fluid (TF) was used for local anaesthesia in the track of GSV. All patients were re-examined after 1, 10 and 30 days clinically and by duplex for complications and occlusion in the treated vein segment. Patient's satisfaction was assessed on a 0 to 4 points scale.

RESULTS

In each group one patient was lost to follow-up. There was no significant difference concerning gender, age, C of CEAP, BMI or diameter of the treated vein. In Group A a mean of 462 ml TF and in Group B a mean of 428 ml TF were used. In Group A the mean LEED (average linear endovenous energy density) was 114 J / cm and in Group B 115 J / cm. In both groups occlusion of the treated veins was achieved for all patients. The diameter of the GSV at 3 cm below the sapheno-femoral junction shrunk from 1.0 to 0.7 cm in both groups. The modified CEAP clinical score improved in Group A from 2.9 to 0.7 (mean value) and in Group B from 3.0 to 1.1. The mean pain score on a scale from 0 to 4 during day 2 to day 10 was 1.2 in Group A and 1.0 in Group B. At this time patients in Group A took a mean of 3.4 and in Group B 1.7 analgetic tablets. Ecchymoses were rare in both groups (4 in Group A, 7 in Group B).

CONCLUSIONS

In this prospective randomized comparative study the temperature of the tumescence fluid did not influence the occlusion rate when a high LEED was used. In both groups pain and ecchymoses are less frequent in this study with a 1470 nm diode laser than reported in studies with 810-980 nm systems. Cold tumescence fluid reduced pain slightly and reduced the intake of analgetics significantly.