Safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins: An initial experience from Pakistan

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for varicose veins. Study Design: Observational case series. Place and Duration of Study: Section of Vascular Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2016 to August 2018. Methodology: Data of RFA procedures performed on 40 patients were collected on a questionnaire from the medical records. It included patients' demographics, pre- and postoperative clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathological (CEAP) system score, venous clinical severity score (VCSS), procedural details and intra- or postoperative complications. Outcome measures were 'safety of the procedure, which was measured by presence of any complications; and 'efficacy of the procedure' which was measured by improvements in the CEAP and VCSS score. Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.7 ±11.5 years. Twenty-one (52.5%) patients were women. Preoperative median VCSS [range] was 7 [2-15], which improved to 1 [0-3] (p <0.001). Preoperative median CEAP [range] was 3 [2-6] and improved to 1 [0-4] (p <0.001). One patient had recurrence and five patients (12.5%) had minor complications, which were treated conservatively. Conclusion: RFA in patients with symptomatic varicose veins can be performed with minimal complications. This modality is also effective in reducing the disease severity.