Background: This study aims to compare 980 nm wavelength endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and VNUS ClosureFast radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: Between November 2012 and May 2014, 178 symptomatic patients with unilateral or bilateral varicose veins were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method applied. Overknee EVLA was performed in 114 extremities of 99 patients (56 females, 43 males; mean age: 48 years; range 20 to 76 years), while 79 patients (47 females, 32 males; mean age: 45 years; range 18 to 72 years) underwent unilateral RFA. Only patients with insufficiencies on vena saphena magna (VSM) or on its branches and patients with a minimum VSM diameter of 4 mm at knee level and 7 mm on sapheno-femoral junction measured with colored Doppler ultrasound (US) were included in the study. After both procedures, the clinical signs and Doppler US results of patients at one year during follow-up were compared.

Results: Based on Doppler US results, partial closure was identified in 4% of EVLA patients and in 1.25% of RFA patients. Burning sensation was less common in RFA patients. Among patients in whom the technique was successful, the presence of burning sensation, presence of at least one of the burning sensation or ecchymosis or presence of at least one of the burning sensation, ecchymosis, or pain was statistically significantly lower in RFA patients. Among all patients, 83% had burning sensation due to technical failure and this result was statistically significant.

Conclusion: Our study results show that RFA is superior to EVLA method thanks to its high closure rate of VSM and less burning sensation.

Keywords : Ablation; endovenous; radiofrequency