Laser-assisted strategy for reflux abolition in a modified CHIVA approach

The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and efficacy of an endovenous laser (EL) assisted saphenous-sparing strategy in chronic venous disease (CVD). Fourteen CVD patients (C2,3,4s Ep As Pr1,2,3) underwent a saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) treatment by EL just from below the superficial epigastric vein downward for a limited tract, together with a flush ligation of the incompetent tributaries of the great saphenous vein (GSV) along the leg. The following GSV parameters were assessed 15 cm below the SFJ: reflux time, caliber, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI). Venous clinical severity score and the Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysio logical (CEAP) classification clinical classes were assessed. At 1 year follow up 3 cases were considered failures because of a GSV thrombosis, even if they presented a GSV recanalization with a laminar flow within at the 2 years follow-up. Eleven procedures succeeded because neither minor nor major peri-procedural complications were reported, apart 2 cases of self-healing bruising. In these last 11 cases the procedure led to a GSV reflux suppression (from 3.1±0.4 s to a retrograde laminar draining flow), to a GSV caliber reduction (from 9.4±0.5 to 3.1±0.2 cm, P<0.001), to a PSV reduction (from 50.2±4.6 to 18.4±3.5 cm/s, P<0.001), to a RI reduction (from 0.9±0.2 to 0.51±0.2, P<0.005) and to an oscillatory flow suppression (EDV from -8.9±1.6 to 6.2±2.3 cm/s, P<0.001). Both CEAP and venous clinical severity score improved from 3 to 1 (P<0.001) and from 7±2 to 2±1 (P<0.05), respectively. The GSV flow reappeared below the shrunk tract draining into the re-entry perforator. Sapheno-femoral reflux suppression can be obtained by just a GSV segmental closure. An almost 80% of success rate of the present investigation paves the way for an even wider diffusion of endovenous techniques, moreover erasing the surgical requirements for those who would like to perform a saphenoussparing strategy. In this way new devices could be used inside equally innovative strategies.