Prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing electrocoagulation and radiofrequency in the treatment of patients with great saphenous vein insufficiency and lower limb varicose veins

OBJECTIVE: Thermoablation has been replacing conventional surgery in the surgical treatment of great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux in patients with lower limb varicose veins; however, thermoablation is expensive. Intravenous electrocoagulation (EC) may, selectively and safely, cause necrosis of the GSV wall, but the clinical results have never been studied. The objective of this study was to compare EC and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of GSV insufficiency, considering efficacy, complications, and effect on quality of life.METHODS:This was a prospective, double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Patients with lower limb varicose veins and GSV reflux confirmed by duplex ultrasound were randomized into two treatment groups: EC and RFA. Patients were followed up at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after the procedure. Occlusion of the GSV confirmed by duplex ultrasound was considered the primary outcome, and the rate of complications and improvement in quality of life, using the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire score, were the secondary outcomes...

Relationships between severity of signs and symptoms and quality of life in patients with chronic venous disease / Estudo da relação entre a gravidade dos sinais, dos sintomas e da qualidade de vida em pacientes portadores de doença venosa crônica

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is progressive and has a high prevalence in the economically active population. Its impact on the quality of life of affected individuals is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To test for correlations between the CEAP classification of CVD severity and CVD symptoms and quality of life of affected individuals. METHODS: We investigated 91 lower limbs in 59 patients with CVD (CEAP C1- C6). Patients were assessed with a Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAPS), the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and the SF-36 quality-of-life questionnaire. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. RESULTS: There were positive correlations between the CEAP classification and scores for VAPS (0.815, p <0.000), VCSS (0.937, p <0.000), and SF-36 in the dimensions Physical Functioning: -0.791, p <0.000; Role Physical: -0.839; p <0.000; Bodily Pain: -0.684; General Health: -0.617, p <0.000; Role Emotional: -0.691, p <0.000). There was no correlation with Vitality: -0.003, p=0.979; Role Social: -0.188, p=0.740 or Mental Health: -0.085, p=0.421. CONCLUSIONS: There were positive correlations between CEAP and both VAPS and VCSS. Chronic Venous Insufficiency progressively affects quality of life (SF-36). Physical and emotional aspects are more severe at later stages of CVD. Vitality, Mental Health and Role Social can be negatively impacted from the early stages of the disease...

A doença venosa crônica (DVC) é a causa mais frequente dos sintomas vasculares que acometem os membros inferiores. É pouco estudada a relação entre seus sinais clínicos, a intensidade dos sintomas, e a qualidade de vida do indivíduo acometido. OBJETIVOS: Verificar se existe uma relação positiva entre a progressão da doença e a gravidade dos sintomas e a piora na qualidade de vida. MÉTODOS: Avaliamos 91 membros com classificação clínica CEAP entre C1 e C6. Os sintomas foram avaliados através da Escala Visual Analógica de Dor (EVAD), da Escala de Gravidade Clínica dos Sintomas Venosos (EGCSV) e pelo questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36. Foi verificada a presença de correlação entre essas variáveis através do método proposto por Spearman, considerando p significativo quando inferior a 0,05. RESULTADOS: Houve correlação positiva entre a gravidade da doença da DVC (CEAP C1-6) e a EVAD (0,815; p<0,000) e a EGCSV (0,937; p<0,000); observou-se correlação negativa com a SF-36 nos quesitos: Capacidade Funcional (-0,791; p<0,000); Limitação Física (-0,839; p<0,000); Dor (-0,684; p<0,000); Estado Geral de Saúde (-0,617; p<0,000); Aspectos Emocionais (-0,691; p<0,000). Não houve correlação com a Vitalidade (-0,003, p=0,979), Aspectos Sociais (-0,188, p=0,740) e Saúde Mental (-0,085, p=0,421). CONCLUSÕES: Na DVC, existe uma correlação positiva entre a gravidade dos sinais clínicos da doença e a intensidade dos sintomas, e correlação negativa com a qualidade de vida, que é gravemente comprometida, em seus aspectos físicos e emocionais. A vitalidade, a saúde mental e os aspectos sociais são comprometidos já nos estágios iniciais da doença...

Experimental determination of the best time and duration for endovenous great saphenous vein electrocoagulation

Endovenous electrocoagulation provokes immediate selective venous wall necrosis. In this study, we aim to determine the best power and time of electrocoagulation necessary to cause intima and media but not adventitia layer damage in great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency treatment.We studied 100 varicose GSV fragments submitted to endovenous electrocoagulation. The power (60, 90, or 120 W) and time (5, 10, or 15 seconds) were randomly assigned. The fragments were submitted to histopathologic examination to analyze the depth of tissue necrosis. Dose-response models for the analysis of binary data were used to identify the best association between power and the time of electrocoagulation necessary to cause intima and media but not adventitia layer necrosis. We also applied a logistic regression model to investigate the impact of body mass index and GSV diameter on the electrocoagulation effects.The time (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; P = .0009) was found to be a stronger predictor of the depth of vessel necrosis than the power of electrocoagulation applied (OR, 1.05; P < .0001). The power and time that were most likely to cause intima and media but not adventitia layer destruction were 60.4 W × 5 seconds, 58.8 W × 10 seconds, and 8.9 W × 15 seconds. The initial GSV diameter (median, 5.36 mm; minimum, 2.3 mm; maximum, 10 mm; OR, 0.96; P = .82) and body index mass (median, 24.7 kg/m2; minimum, 15.6 kg/m2; maximum, 36.2 kg/m2; OR, 1.08; P = .26) showed a poor correlation with the depth of histologic vessel destruction.The time of electrocoagulation strongly predicts the depth of GSV wall necrosis more than the amount of power applied. Determination of the best time and power of electrocoagulation ratio may help optimize GSV endovenous electrocoagulation closure rates and decrease the complications index. The GSV diameter and body mass index do not influence endovenous electrocoagulation effects...