Treatment of chronic venous insufficiency with great saphenous vein endovenous radiofrequency ablation and miniphlebectomy in a single session

Patients and methods: Between December 2012 and May 2017, 141 patients (63 males, 78 females; mean age 42.3±10.6 years; range, 21 to 72 years) who were diagnosed with CVI underwent GSV RF concomitant with miniphlebectomy in a single session in our clinic. Of the patients, 81.6% were in C3 according to the Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological (CEAP) classification and 31.9% had concomitant deep venous insufficiency.

Results: All patients underwent an intervention in the operating room. Of the patients, 65.2% received general anesthesia with laryngeal mask, while 34.8% received spinal anesthesia. Right leg intervention was performed in 48.2% of the patients. Surgical sutures were not used after miniphlebectomy in none of the patients and the incisions were approximated with sterile adhesive strips. Complications such as hematoma, hemorrhage, infection, and major edema were not observed postoperatively. The mean hospital stay varied between 3-4 hours and 1 day. One patient had GSV thrombophlebitis, while another one had popliteal deep venous thrombosis which was improved with medical treatment during one to three-month follow-up.

Conclusion: Concomitant RF ablation and miniphlebectomy can be preferred in terms of cosmetic and clinical satisfaction in preoperatively well-assessed eligible patients with a short follow-up period and without scar formation.