SummaryRadiofrequency obliteration for the treatment of varicosis was licensed in Europe in 1998. Many papers have been published on the outcome of radiofrequency obliteration. In most cases these were case series, although prospective, randomised, controlled studies and metaanalyses as well as reviews were also published. Methods: The first review by Schmedt and Steckmeier in 2006, analysed 2333 treated extremities. This paper deliberately waives a formal metaanalysis of the study results on file. Lübke et al. published a metaanalyses of radiofrequency obliteration in 2008. It comprised eight prospective, randomised studies with 225 treated extremities. Another review was also published in 2008 by Noppeney et al. This review included 516 treated extremities from case series, and 116 treated extremities from prospective, randomised studies. It also deliberately waived the techniques of metaanalysis. The last published metaanalysis is by van den Bos et al. 2009. This analysis included 19 publications containing reports on 2514 treated extremities. Two papers on the more recent radiofrequency obliteration methods, VNUS Closure Fast® and RFITT have been published to date. Results: The overall perioperative complication rate for radiofrequency obliteration is very low. The frequency of deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism is given as between 0 and 1.4%. Perioperative transient para- and hypaesthesia are reported most often; the frequency here is between 0 and 15.9%. Schmedt and Steckmeier give the mean closure rate for the VNUS Closure Plus® procedure as over 89%, Lübke et al. quote between 81.25 and 100%, and Noppeney et al. cite 89.1% for case series and 87.1% for the prospective, randomised studies. The closure rate in the metaanalysis by van den Bos et al. is given as between 67 and 100%. The European multicentre study reports a closure rate of 96.7% 12 months after the VNUS Closure Fast® procedure. The closure rate 12 months after RFITT is given as 97.6%. Conclusion: The study results on file show that radiofrequency obliteration has become an established therapeutic alternative to traditional vein stripping. Its major benefit is the very low level of perioperative pain symptoms.