Randomized clinical trial comparing endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, foam sclerotherapy and surgical stripping for great saphenous varicose veins. BJS 2011; 98: 1079-1087.

Results

At 1 year, seven (5·8 per cent), six (4·8 per cent), 20 (16·3 per cent) and four (4·8 per cent) of the GSVs were patent and refluxing in the laser, radiofrequency, foam and stripping groups respectively (P < 0·001). One patient developed a pulmonary embolus after foam sclerotherapy and one a deep vein thrombosis after surgical stripping. No other major complications were recorded. The mean(s.d.) postintervention pain scores (scale 0–10) were 2·58(2·41), 1·21(1·72), 1·60(2·04) and 2·25(2·23) respectively (P < 0·001). The median (range) time to return to normal function was 2 (0–25), 1 (0–30), 1 (0–30) and 4 (0–30) days respectively (P < 0·001). The time off work, corrected for weekends, was 3·6 (0–46), 2·9 (0–14), 2·9 (0–33) and 4·3 (0–42) days respectively (P < 0·001). Disease‐specific quality‐of‐life and Short Form 36 (SF‐36^®) scores had improved in all groups by 1‐year follow‐up. In the SF‐36^® domains bodily pain and physical functioning, the radiofrequency and foam groups performed better in the short term than the others.