Comparison of Endovenous Laser and Radiofrequency Ablation in Treating Varices in the Same Patient

To compare endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in different legs in the same individual in patients with venous insufficiency.
Sixty patients with bilateral saphenous vein insufficiency were included. EVLA or RFA was applied to one of the patient’s legs and RFA or EVLA to the other leg.
EVLA and RFA complications were hyperemia at 20.7% and 31.0%, ecchymosis at 31.0% and 51.7% and edema at 27.6% and 65.5%, respectively. The rate of recanalization was 6.8% in the RFA group. No recanalization was observed in EVLA group. The level of patients satisfied with EVLA was 51.7%, compared to 31.0% for RFA, while 17.2% of patients were satisfied with both procedures. Times to return to daily activity were 0.9 days in the EVLA group and 1.3 days in the RFA group.
EVLA procedure may be superior to RFA in certain respects.