Clinical Experience of VNUS(R)Closure fast in Treatment of Varicose Vein: Comparison with Traditional Radiofrequency Ablation

Kim, Woo Shik; Lee, Jeong Sang; Jeong, Seong Cheol; Shin, Yong Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Radiofrequency endovenous ablation of incompetent saphenous vein has gaining popularity over the conventional ligation and stripping as a minimally invasive technique. The latest version of radiofrequency endovenous catheter, VNUS(R)Closure fast VNUS medical Technologies, San Jose, CA, adopted a segmental ablation system, instead of continous pullback, is designed to reduce treatment time in comparison with the previous model-VNUS(R)Closure plus VNUS medical Technologies, San Jose, CA. The purpose of this study is to compare the difference between two endovenous radiofrequency ablation systems in terms of treatment efficacy and complication rates. We analyze the initial efficacy and complication rates of VNUS(R)Closure fast with VNUS(R)Closure plus. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between June 2006 and August 2009, VNUS(R)Closure plus was performed to treat varicose vein on 59 limbs in 41 patients and VNUS(R)Closure fast was performed on 76 limbs in 67 patients. We retrospectively compared in both group with sex, mean treatment time, mean treatment diameter, conjugated treatment, and complications after the procedure. RESULT: All patient were symptomatic and diagnosed as varicose vein and underwent level 2 clinical classification with color duplex scan. The mean treatment time for the great saphenous vein was significantly less with VNUS(R)Closure fast (17.0+/-6.5 min) than VNUS(R)Closure plus (62.7+/-29.8 min). There was no significant difference in 1 yr closure rate between groups (p=0.32). Minor complications such as skin burn, thrombophlebitis, ecchymosis, hematoma, cellulitis, tenderness, and there were not different between the groups.
CONCLUSION
Both VNUS(R)Closure fast and VNUS(R)Closure plus are effective methods of endovenous saphenous ablation. VNUS(R)Closure fast is superior to the previous model with less treatment time preserving compatible efficacy and complications. The efficacy of VNUS(R)Closure fast for long term closure rate remains to be established.