Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency and the Effect of Radiofrequency Treatment Versus Open Surgery

Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency and the Effect of Radiofrequency Treatment Versus Open Surgery. A 5-year Follow-up Using Duplex Ultrasound, Plethysmography, VCSS, AVVQ and EQ-5D

200 patients with insufficient great saphenous veins will be randomized to either radiofrequency ablation or high ligation/stripping (open surgery). They will be examined according to standardized examination protocol Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), with duplex ultrasound and plethysmography pre- and postoperatively (1-month, 1-, 3 and 5 years). They are to fill questionnaires EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and disease specific Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Insufficient great saphenous vein
• Possible to treat with both radiofrequency ablation and high ligation/stripping
• Clinical Etiological Anatomical Pathophysiological score (CEAP) C2-C6

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous intervention in the affected leg
• Insufficient accessory branch origin close to the great saphenous vein estuary in the femoral vein.
• Small saphenous vein insufficiency with diameter >6 mm and/or flow >100ml/min
• Patient that is not able to perform plethysmography