Third generation of laser (>1900) for endovenous thermoablation (EVLA) of varicose veins: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Third generation lasers with longer wavelengths (>1900 nm) have been introduced, in recent years, for the treatment of varicose veins. The possible advantage of the new generation lasers is that they allow complete damage to the vein wall using a lower Power in Watts (W: J/sec) and a lower linear energy density (LEED: J/cm). The aim of this work is to evaluate the results present in the literature regarding efficacy and safeness of the new generation lasers for the treatment of varicose veins.

METHODS

Published articles were searched on PubMed database and on Cochrane Library, entering the keywords "1940 nm or 1920 nm laser AND varicose veins laser thermoablation (EVLA)." The primary endpoint of the study was to value rate of occlusion and adverse events at the short term follow-up. The search yielded a total of 14 studies. In the end, only six studies were judge eligibility.

RESULTS

The studies were heterogenous in their documentation, EVLA, duplex ultrasound protocol and result reporting. A total of 540 limbs of 377 patients were treated with endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) with laser 1920-1940 nm. The treated veins had a mean diameter of 0.74 ± 0.17 cm and a mean length of 27.87 ± 20.63 cm. The pooled estimates of immediate occlusion rate was of 99.8% (95% CI: 97.9% to 100.0) with high heterogeneity (I2 = 60%; 95% PI: 89.7% to 100%), while at short-term follow-up was of 98.2% (95% CI: 94.0% to 100.0%) with higher heterogeneity (I2:79%; 95% PI: 77.1% to 100.0%). EHIT occurred in 7 cases (pooled estimate: 0.7%). The other adverse events rate reported were 1% of hyperpigmentation, 2.8% of neurological complications, 0.6% thrombophlebitis and 1.9% of bruising/hematoma. The pooled mean estimates of LEED was equal to 38.2 J/cm (95% CI: 26.3 to 50.1 J/cm) although with a very large heterogeneity (I2 = 100%).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall success rate of EVLA was high. The analysis of these studies suggests that using lower parameters (Power and linear administered energy) may have no effect on the treatment success rate. Short-term results demonstrate comparable occlusion rates respect the second-generation lasers. Instead, data suggest a low complication rates. Short-term results demonstrate comparable complications rates respect the second-generation lasers (1300-1470 nm). Randomized studies with longer follow-up are required to evaluate the EVLA 1900 nm procedure further.

Effect of the wide-spread use of endovenous laser ablation on the treatment of varicose veins in Japan: a large-scale, single institute study

Background and aims: In Japan, stripping under general anesthesia, lumbar anesthesia and tumescent local anesthesia has been used in the treatment of primary varicose veins due to saphenous vein insufficiency. However endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) using a 980 nm diode laser has received National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage in 2011, while EVLA using a 1470 nm diode laser with a radial 2-ring fiber has received coverage in 2014. As a result, the use of EVLA has become widespread in Japan. We herein report on the results of varicose veins treatment at our hospital. Subjects and methods: Two hundred eighty-nine patients with saphenous vein reflux who received treatment between October 2013 and December 2015 were included in the present study. The surgical results (operating time, complications, ablation rate, linear endovenous energy density [LEED], and the incidence of surgical site infections [SSI]) were retrospectively assessed and compared among the patients who underwent stripping (group A) and those who underwent EVLA (group B) according to the Japan Guidelines for EVLA. Results: Group A and group B included 49 patients and 240 patients, respectively. Group B comprised 20 patients who underwent EVLA using a 980 nm laser (group B1) and 240 patients who underwent EVLA using a 1470 nm laser (group B2). The operative time in group A was 48 ± 16 minutes, whereas that in group B was 28 ± 10 minutes. The operative time, the length of the treated vein and LEED in groups B1 and B2 were 40 ± 11 and 27 ± 10 minutes, 36 ± 10 and 33 ± 10 cm and 84 ± 10 and 77 ± 18 J/cm², respectively. Furthermore, the mean operative time in group B1 (with no phlebectomy) was 31 ± 9 minutes, whereas that in group B2 (with no phlebectomy) was 22 ±7 minutes, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). The level of pain peak was day 1 in group A patients and on days 3-7 in group B1 patients; the group B2 patients felt little pain. Surgical site infection at the phlebectomy site was observed in two group B2 patients. EVLA resulted in an occlusion rate of 99.6% at approximately two years after surgery. Conclusions: This study showed that EVLA using the 1470-nm laser caused less pain and bruising than EVLA using the 980-nm laser. The operative time of EVLA was approximately 9 minutes shorter than that of stripping. Therefore, EVLA using the 1470-nm laser might be the first treatment of choice for patients with saphenous vein reflux. However conventional surgery remains important because EVLA is not suitable in cases in which the diameter of the saphenous veins is >20 mm or in patients with highly tortuous veins.