Day surgery varicose vein treatment using endovenous laser.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the safety and efficacy of endovenous laser obliteration to treat varicose vein in a day surgery setting, using sedation and local anaesthesia.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

SETTING: Day surgery centre in a regional hospital in Hong Kong.

PATIENTS: A total of 24 patients with duplex-confirmed long saphenous vein insufficiency underwent endovenous laser (940 nm) varicose vein treatment from July to November 2007 in a single day surgery centre. Adjuvant phlebectomy and injection sclerotherapy were performed in the same session if indicated. All patients had postprocedural venous duplex scan and clinic assessment on day 7 and day 10 respectively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procedure success rate, unplanned hospital admissions and re-admissions, major complications, and long saphenous vein obliteration rate.

RESULTS: A total of 31 limbs of the 24 patients were treated with endovenous laser varicose vein treatment under local anaesthesia and sedation. The procedural success rate was 100%. All but two patients were admitted on the day of treatment and none were re-admitted. The patients' mean visual analogue pain score for the whole procedure was 2.3 (standard deviation, 1.5; range, 0-5). Post-procedural duplex scans showed 100% thrombosis of the treated long saphenous veins with no deep vein thrombosis. There were no skin burns or instances of thrombophlebitis. Induration of the treated long saphenous vein was relatively common (54%). The majority of the patients (54%) experienced mild discomfort in the early postoperative period.

CONCLUSION: Endovenous laser varicose vein treatment performed under local anaesthesia and sedation in a day surgery setting is safe, and yields satisfactory clinical and duplex outcomes.