The endovenous ASVAL method: principles and preliminary results
PDF
Cite
Share
Request
Interventional Radiology - Original Article
P: 59-64
January 2016

The endovenous ASVAL method: principles and preliminary results

Diagn Interv Radiol 2016;22(1):59-64
1. Department of Radiology, Maltepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
2. Department of Radiology, Bahçelievler Medical Park Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 10.04.2015
Accepted Date: 02.05.2015
PDF
Cite
Share
Request

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

We aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of the endovenous ambulatory selective varicose vein ablation under local anesthesia (eASVAL) method in a selected group of pa­tients with varicose disease and present the short-term results of one-year ultrasonographic follow-up.

METHODS

Three hundred and ninety-five consecutive patients with varicose veins who had been treated with endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) were retrospectively reviewed over a period of two years. From this group, 41 patients who were treated using the eASVAL technique and had the great saphenous vein (GSV) preserved were included in the study. These patients had only limited segmental GSV reflux accompanied by a competent terminal valve. The eASVAL technique can be defined as EVLA of the proximal straight segments of the major tributaries connecting the symptomatic varicose veins with the GSV, followed by ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy of the superficial varicose veins themselves. The patients were assessed before and after the treatment by duplex scan findings and clinical assessment scores.

RESULTS

The GSVs were successfully preserved in all 41 cases, and all patients showed significant clinical improvement using the eASVAL approach (P < 0.001). Segmental reflux was no longer present in 75.3% of patients. The mean diameters of the GSVs were significantly reduced at one-year follow-up (8.5 mm vs. 7.5 mm, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

eASVAL is a feasible and safe procedure in selected patients, with promising results at one-year ultrasonographic follow-up. However, prospective studies are required, comparing this approach with the standard techniques.