Endovenous Laser Treatment - Clinical Evaluations

Clinical Evaluations

Journal for Cardiovascular Surgery 2005 - Vol. 46 Robert J. Min, MD Neil M. Khilnani, MD - Department of Radiology Weill Medical College of Cornell University New York, NY, USA

In 2005, Doctors Min and Khilnani published their results of 1,000 limbs treated over a 5 year period with EVLT. 98% of the treated vessels at up to 60 months follow-up remain closed. Complications and side effects like temporary parasthesia and DVTs are reported at less than 0.5%.

The Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) in 2008 has determined that endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins "appears to be more effective in the short term, and at least as effective overall, as the comparative procedure of junction ligation and vein stripping for the treatment of varicose veins." It also found in its assessment of available literature, that "occurrence rates of more severe complications such as DVT, nerve injury and paraesthesia, post-operative infections and haematomas, appears to be greater after ligation and stripping than after EVLT". A study of 516 treated veins over 69 months by Elmore and Lackey reported a success rate of 98.1%.