Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 752-759 , June 2009

Radiofrequency Endovenous ClosureFAST versus Laser Ablation for the Treatment of Great Saphenous Reflux: A Multicenter, Single-blinded, Randomized Study (RECOVERY Study)

  • Jose I. Almeida, MD, RVT

      Affiliations

    • Miami Vein Center, 1501 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129
    • ,
  • John Kaufman, MD

      Affiliations

    • Dotter Interventional Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
    • ,
  • Oliver Göckeritz, MD

      Affiliations

    • Venenzentrum Elsterpark, Leipzig, Germany
    • ,
  • Paramjit Chopra, MD

      Affiliations

    • Midwest Institute for Minimally Invasive Therapies, Melrose Park, Illinois
    • ,
  • Martin T. Evans, MD

      Affiliations

    • Vein Solutions, Richmond, Virginia
    • ,
  • Daniel F. Hoheim, MD

      Affiliations

    • Community Surgical Associates, Missoula, Montana
    • ,
  • Raymond G. Makhoul, MD

      Affiliations

    • Vein Solutions, Richmond, Virginia
    • ,
  • Tim Richards, MD

      Affiliations

    • Community Surgical Associates, Missoula, Montana
    • ,
  • Christian Wenzel, MD

      Affiliations

    • Venenzentrum Elsterpark, Leipzig, Germany
    • ,
  • Jeffrey K. Raines, PhD, RVT

      Affiliations

    • Miami Vein Center, 1501 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33129
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to J.K.R.

Received 25 October 2008 ,Revised 26 February 2009 ,Accepted 2 March 2009.

References 

  1. Jones L, Braithwaite BD, Selwyn D, Cooke S, Earnshaw JJ. Neovascularisation is the principal cause of varicose vein recurrence: results of a randomized trial of stripping the long saphenous vein. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 1996;12:442–445
  2. Winterborn RJ, Foy C, Earnshaw JJ. Causes of varicose vein recurrence: late results of a randomized controlled trial of stripping the long saphenous vein. J Vasc Surg. 2004;40:634–639
  3. Dwerryhouse S, Davies B, Harradine K, Earnshaw JJ. Stripping the long saphenous vein reduces the rate of reoperation for recurrent varicose veins: five-year results of a randomized trial. J Vasc Surg. 1999;29:589–592
  4. Hobbs JT. Surgery and sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicose veins: a randomized trial. Arch Surg. 1974;109:793–796
  5. Goldman MP. Closure of the greater saphenous vein with endoluminal radiofrequency preliminary 6-month follow-up. Dermatol Surg. 2000;26:452–456
  6. Rautio T, Ohinmaa A, Perala J, et al. Endovenous obliteration versus conventional stripping operation in the treatment of primary varicose veins: a randomized controlled trial with comparison of the costs. J Vasc Surg. 2002;35:958–965
  7. Lurie F, Creton D, Eklof B, et al. Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (closure procedure) versus ligation and stripping in a selected patient population (EVOLVeS Study). J Vasc Surg. 2003;38:207–214
  8. Lurie F, Creton D, Eklof B, et al. Prospective randomised study of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration (Closure) versus ligation and vein stripping (EVOLVeS): two-year follow-up. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2005;29:67–73
  9. Stotter L, Schaaf I, Bockelbrink A, et al. Radiofrequency obliteration, invagination or cryo stripping: which is the best tolerated treatment by the patients?. Phlebologie. 2005;34:19–24
  10. Hinchcliff RJ, Ubhi J, Beech A, et al. A prospective randomized controlled trial of VNUS Closure versus surgery for the treatment of recurrent long saphenous varicose veins. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2006;31:212–218
  11. Merchant RF, Pichot O. Long-term outcomes of endovenous radiofrequency obliteration of saphenous reflux as a treatment for superficial venous insufficiency. J Vasc Surg. 2005;42:502–509
  12. Min RJ, Khilnani N, Zimmet S. Endovenous laser treatment of saphenous vein reflux: long-term results. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2003;14:991–996
  13. Proebstle TM, Lehr HA, Kargl A, et al. Endovenous treatment of the greater saphenous vein with a 940 nm diode laser: thrombotic occlusion after endoluminal thermal damage by laser generated steam bubbles. J Vasc Surg. 2002;35:729–736
  14. Mundy L, Merlin TL, Fitridge RA, Hiller JE. Systematic review of endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins. Br J Surg. 2005;92:1189–1194
  15. Proebstle TM, Gul D, Lehr HA, Kargl A, Knop J. Infrequent early recanalization of greater saphenous vein after endovenous laser treatment. J Vasc Surg. 2003;38:511–516
  16. Min RJ, Zimmet SE, Isaacs MN, et al. Endovenous laser treatment of the incompetent greater saphenous vein. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2001;12:1167–1171
  17. Kabnick L. Outcome of different endovenous laser wavelengths for great saphenous vein ablation. J Vasc Surg. 2006;43:88–93
  18. Rutherford RB, Padberg FT, Comerota AJ, Kistner RL, Meissner MH, Moneta GL. Venous severity scoring: an adjunct to venous outcome assessment. J Vasc Surg. 2000;31:1307–1312
  19. Launois R, Reboul-Marty J, Henry B. Construction and validation of a quality of life questionnaire in chronic lower limb venous insufficiency (CIVIQ). Qual Life Res. 1996;5:539–554
  20. Almeida JI, Raines JK. Radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation in the treatment of varicose veins. Ann Vasc Surg. 2006;20:547–552
  21. Morrison N. Saphenous ablation: what are the choices, laser or RF energy?. Semin Vasc Surg. 2005;18:15–18
  22. Timperman PE, Sichlau M, Ryu RK. Greater energy delivery improves treatment success of endovenous laser treatment of incompetent saphenous veins. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2004;15:1061–1063
  23. Timperman PE. Prospective evaluation of higher energy great saphenous vein endovenous laser treatment. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2005;16:791–794
  24. Proebstle TM, Moehler T, Herdemann S. Reduced recanalization rates of the great saphenous vein after endovenous laser treatment with increased energy dosing: definition of a threshold for the endovenous fluence equivalent. J Vasc Surg. 2006;44:834–839
  25. Vuylsteke M, Liekens K, Moons P, Mordon S. Endovenous laser treatment of saphenous vein reflux: how much energy do we need to prevent recanalizations. Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2008;42:141–149
  26. Proebstle TM, Vago B, Alm J, et al. Treatment of the incompetent great saphenous vein by endovenous radiofrequency powered segmental thermal ablation: first clinical experience. J Vasc Surg. 2008;47:151–156

 None of the authors have identified a conflict of interest.

 This work was supported by VNUS Medical Technologies (San Jose, California).

PII: S1051-0443(09)00214-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2009.03.008

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology
Volume 20, Issue 6 , Pages 752-759 , June 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution