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Abstract

Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a very effective minimal invasive procedure to treat the patients of symptomatic lower limb varicosities with very low complication rate, low recurrence, early mobilisation and less duration of in-hospital stay.
Aims and objectives: To evaluates the outcomes of EVLA treatment in terms of symptom relief, cosmetic improvement, complication rates, recovery time, and long-term efficacy.
Materials and methods: This was single centre retrospective study conducted in 540 patients having diagnosis of symptomatic unilateral or bilateral lower limb varicose veins. All the patients were treated with EVLA procedure using a 900 nm diode laser under local anaesthesia with preoperative physical examination and duplex ultrasonography with vein mapping.
Results: In this study 540 patients underwent EVLA procedure, out of which bilateral EVLA was done in 210 patients and 330 patients underwent unilateral EVLA. Follow up of all the patients was done for 6 months and it was observed that 44 patients had induration, 37 patients had parasthesia, 21 patients had local haematoma,13 patients had recanalization, 8 patients had swelling at postoperative site and DVT occurred in 2 patients. Significant improvement was observed on pain visual analogue scale with 0 intensity by 3rd post operative week.
Conclusion: There is significant incidence of lower limb varicose veins and EVLA procedure serves to be effective in symptomatic relief, cosmetic improvement, lower complication rates, less recovery time, and good long-term efficacy.