ABSTRACT

Endovenous laser ablation has replaced surgical methods in the treatment of saphenous insufficiency. The aims of this study were to compare the effectiveness of 1470- and 980-nm wavelength (WL) laser systems, to compare the postoperative complication rates, and to determine the effect of laser WL on postoperative pain scores.

Between October 2010 and November 2011, 79 consecutive patients with saphenous vein insufficiency were examined. The patients who received the 980-nm treatment were defined as Group 1; 54 extremities of 47 patients were treated in this group. The patients who received the 1470-nm treatment were defined as Group 2; 36 extremities of 32 patients were treated in this group.

Early technical success was 100% in both groups. Both major and minor complications were seen in Group 2. The complications in Group 1 were mostly major; however, three minor complications were reported in this group. The complication rates of the two groups were not significantly different. There was no statistically significant difference between the pain scores of the two groups.

Early postoperative pain was the major factor that impaired quality of life. There was no relationship between the postoperative pain scores and laser WL or energy density. The laser WL did not affect technical success or occurrence of complications. Use of a suitable energy density resulted in complete occlusion in all patients with saphenous vein insufficiency.