Endovenous laser ablation combined with high ligation is safe and effective. Postoperative hematomas are significantly smaller than those after stripping. Short-term quality of life is at least as good as that after stripping. The long-term results warrant further investigation.

Varicose vein surgery is followed by favorable clinical results and high patient satisfaction, with no difference between HL + S and HL + EVLA.

KeywordsGreat saphenous vein (GSV), endovenous thermal laser ablation (EVLA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), varicose veins SummaryObjective: To evaluate and compare the fiveyear outcome after treatment of a varicose GSV by endovenous thermal laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Methods: In this non-randomized, prospective study, patients treated in 2007 and 2008 for complete varicosis of the GSV (CEAP: C2-C6) were divided according to the treatment technique used into three groups: RFA (VNUS ClosureFast ™ ), EVLA 980 nm (ELVeS 980 ™ ) and EVLA 1470 nm (ELVeS 1470 ™ ). Ultrasound-guided follow-up consultations were conducted 3 days, 3 months, 1 year and 5 years after treatment.