Endovenous Laser Treatment of the Lesser Saphenous Vein With a 940-nm Diode Laser

Endovenous Laser Treatment of the Lesser Saphenous Vein With a 940-nm Diode Laser: Early Results

“…For ELT of the GSV, data about treatment‐related paresthesia are very preliminary. Apart from one study, delivering extreme amounts of Nd:YAG‐laser energy with each single pulse, 7 substantial rates of paresthesia were not reported by other authors 4–6 . However, treated numbers were small, and in only one study was the ELT procedure extended down to the calf region 6 …”

“…The first routinely used technique, radiofrequency closure, has shown success rates of more than 90% 1–3 in eliminating reflux of the incompetent greater saphenous vein (GSV); however, even with its use restricted to the thigh region, the method has been reported in these early studies with remarkable rates of paresthesia between 5% and 19% 1–3 . More recently, similar success rates in abolishing refluxes of the incompetent greater saphenous vein have been reported with endovenous laser treatment (ELT) 4–6 . For ELT of the GSV, data about treatment‐related paresthesia are very preliminary.…”

Fluoroscopy-Guided Endovenous Foam Sclerotherapy Using a Microcatheter in Varicose Tributaries Followed by Endovenous Laser Treatment of Incompetent Saphenous Veins

“…4,5,9,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] However, the operator faces some technical problems during laser ablation under ultrasound guidance. The first problem is difficulty visualizing the laser's tip on the ultrasound image.…”

Histopathologic Studies of the Below-the-Knee Great Saphenous Vein after Endovenous Laser Ablation

“…Laser energy is intraluminally absorbed and converted to heat, which in turn gives rise to steam bubbles, as extensively described by Proebstle 3,4 . Beale and colleagues 5 and Disselhoff and colleagues 6 have reported intraluminal and extraluminal temperatures.…”