• Sergio Gianesini, Erica Menegatti, Savino Occhionorelli, Maria Grazia Sibilla, Marianna Mucignat, and Paolo Zamboni.
• Vascular Diseases Center-Mini-invasive Venous Surgery Unit, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
• Phlebology. 2021 Feb 1; 36 (1): 63-69.

BackgroundEndovenous thermal ablation for chronic venous disease treatment is recommended over traditional surgery. The present investigation compares endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) with radiofrequency (RF) for segmental endovenous sapheno-femoral junction ablation.MethodsThis is a retrospective study in which 79 patients underwent a 6 cm great saphenous vein ablation by RF or by EVLA.Primary outcome was occlusion rate. Secondary outcomes included Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) score, peri-procedural pain, aesthetic satisfaction.ResultsAt 12 ± 1 months recanalization of shrunk tract was recorded in 5/85 (5.8%) cases (2 RF, 3 EVLA) [OR: 1.6; 95%CI: 0.2-10.4; P = 0.6689]. Two cases (1/44 RF group and 1/38 EVLA group) also showed reflux recurrence [OR: 1.0; 95%CI: 0.06-17.8; P = 1.0000]. No significant differences between groups were found in AVVQ, VCSS, peri-procedural pain, or aesthetic satisfaction.ConclusionSaphenous sparing is feasible and effective by means of both EVLA and RF, representing a possible alternative to surgery.

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