Randomized clinical trial of endovenous microwave ablation combined with high ligation versus conventional surgery for varicose veins.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of endovenous microwave ablation (EMA) in treatment of varicose veins (VVS).

METHODS

The patients were randomly divided into EMA and high ligation and stripping (HLS) groups. Clinical outcomes and complications were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery, and the effect on quality of life was also assessed using the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) respectively.

RESULTS

EMA occluded VVS completely, with a shorter operative time, less bleeding and smaller incisions than the HLS procedure. In the EMA group, skin burns were found on 11 limbs (10.2%); sensory alteration and ecchymosis were less; and the recurrence rate of VVS was relatively lower compared with the HLS group. Both groups had significant improvement in VCSS and disease-specific quality of life (AVVQ) postoperatively. There was no significant difference in AVVQ and VCSS scores between the groups.

CONCLUSION

EMA is an effective new technique for the treatment of VVS, and had a more satisfactory clinical outcome than HLS in the short term.