Publication:

Varicose vein surgery stripping method compared to radio frequency ablation

Background This randomised study was conducted to evaluate clinical, patient based outcomes after RFA and conventional surgery in a selected population.

Methods This study was conducted in the Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Results In present study, it was reported that 150 patients in total were assessed in the study, out of which, 110 were randomised, 100 underwent the intervention as a daily procedure. 50 patients underwent RFA and 50 patients had conventional surgery. In group R, males were 15, females were 35; in group C, males were 17 and females were 33. In CEAP classification, in C2 class, there were 40 in group R, 39 in group C; in C3 class, there were 8 in group R, 6 in group C; in C4-6 class, 2 were in group R and 5 were in group C. The highest total clinical severity score was 1 i.e. 30 in group R and  32 in group C. Highest venous disability score was in 1 i.e. 46 in group R, 42 in group C. Main outcomes after RFA and conventional surgery for great saphenous varicose veins. Theatre time was 80 mins in group R, 52 mins in group C, procedure time was 74 mins in group R, 46 mins in group C, pain in first week (VAS score) was 1.5 in group R, 3.5 in group C, duration of analgesia was 3 days in group R, 11 days in group C, in 4 days group R patients returned to normal activity, in 13 days group C patients returned to normal activity. Numbness/reduced sensation was followed up after 1 week and 6 week, in group R, 8 patients and in group C, 16 patients have shown numbness/reduced sensation after 1 week; 6 patients in group R and 14 patients in group C have shown numbness/reduced sensation after 6 weeks.

Conclusions This study concluded that compared to conventional surgery, RFA took longer time to perform but it gave better and significantly early outcome in patients with varicose veins.