Surgical Procedures Best Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 18 Sep 2019 |
|
Image: A new study claims that surgery offers the best option for treating varicose veins (Photo courtesy of 123RF).
Laser ablation and surgery for varicose veins similarly improve quality of life (QOL), whereas foam sclerotherapy has less of an effect, claims a new study.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom), the University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom), and nine other centers across the United Kingdom conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 798 participants with primary varicose veins in order to compare outcomes of laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and surgery. The primary outcomes were disease-specific and generic QOL at follow-up, as well as cost-effectiveness based on models of expected costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).
Five years after the start of the trial, 595 patients had completed primary outcome analysis, which included 162 patients in the laser ablation group, 219 in the foam sclerotherapy group, and 214 in the surgery group. The rates of complete success with respect to truncal-vein ablation were 64% with laser ablation, 33.3% with foam sclerotherapy, and 75.9% with surgery. Additionally, in a two-way comparison between foam sclerotherapy and surgery, 54.5% of model iterations favored surgery. The study was published on September 4, 2019, in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“The results indicated a better QOL in patients who underwent laser ablation or surgery than among those who underwent foam sclerotherapy,” concluded lead author Julie Brittenden, MD, of the University of Glasgow, and colleagues. “The lesser presence and extent of varicose veins at five years in the ablation and surgery groups likely explain the differences in quality of life observed in the study.”
Varicose veins (also known as venous reflux disease) are a common condition that affects both men (25%) and women (40%). They are caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves, which become enlarged and twisted when the blood pressure increases due to obesity, pregnancy, constipation, a tumor or poor circulation. They can occur anywhere from the groin to the ankle.
Related Links:
University of Glasgow
University of Aberdeen
Researchers at the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom), the University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom), and nine other centers across the United Kingdom conducted a randomized, controlled trial involving 798 participants with primary varicose veins in order to compare outcomes of laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy, and surgery. The primary outcomes were disease-specific and generic QOL at follow-up, as well as cost-effectiveness based on models of expected costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).
Five years after the start of the trial, 595 patients had completed primary outcome analysis, which included 162 patients in the laser ablation group, 219 in the foam sclerotherapy group, and 214 in the surgery group. The rates of complete success with respect to truncal-vein ablation were 64% with laser ablation, 33.3% with foam sclerotherapy, and 75.9% with surgery. Additionally, in a two-way comparison between foam sclerotherapy and surgery, 54.5% of model iterations favored surgery. The study was published on September 4, 2019, in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“The results indicated a better QOL in patients who underwent laser ablation or surgery than among those who underwent foam sclerotherapy,” concluded lead author Julie Brittenden, MD, of the University of Glasgow, and colleagues. “The lesser presence and extent of varicose veins at five years in the ablation and surgery groups likely explain the differences in quality of life observed in the study.”
Varicose veins (also known as venous reflux disease) are a common condition that affects both men (25%) and women (40%). They are caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves, which become enlarged and twisted when the blood pressure increases due to obesity, pregnancy, constipation, a tumor or poor circulation. They can occur anywhere from the groin to the ankle.
Related Links:
University of Glasgow
University of Aberdeen
Gold Member
12-Channel ECG
CM1200B
New
Patient Preoperative Skin Preparation
BD ChloraPrep
New
Creatinine/eGFR Meter
StatSensor® Creatinine/eGFR Meter
Latest Surgical Techniques News
- Continuous Monitoring with Wearables Enhances Postoperative Patient Safety
- New Approach Enables Customized Muscle Tissue Without Biomaterial Scaffolds
- Robot-Assisted Brain Angiography Improves Procedural Outcomes
- Brain Mapping Technology Enhances Precision in Brain Tumor Resection
- Handheld Robotic System Expands Options for Total Knee Surgery
- VR Experience Reduces Patient Anxiety Before Kidney Stone Procedure
- Injectable Mini Livers Offer Hope for Patients Awaiting Transplant
- Pulsed Field Ablation Technology Cleared in Europe for Persistent AFib
- AI-Powered Imaging Brings Real-Time Margin Clarity to Breast Cancer Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Device Safely Treats Challenging Brain Aneurysms
- Surgical Robot Makes Complex Liver Tumor Surgery Safer and Less Invasive
- Neurostimulation Implant Reduces Seizure Burden in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
- Minimally Invasive Procedure Effectively Treats Small Kidney Cancers
- Fluorescence Probe Paired with Engineered Enzymes Lights Up Tumors for Easier Surgical Removal
- Novel Hydrogel Could Become Bone Implant of the Future
- Skull Implant Design Could Shape Surgical Outcomes
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Machine Learning Approach Enhances Liver Cancer Risk Stratification
Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is often detected late despite targeted surveillance programs. Current screening guidelines emphasize patients with known cirrhosis,... Read more
New AI Approach Monitors Brain Health Using Passive Wearable Data
Brain health spans cognitive and emotional functions and can fluctuate even in adults without diagnosed disease. Detecting early changes remains difficult in routine care and burdens specialty services... Read more
Critical Care
view channel
Automated IV Labeling Solution Improves Infusion Safety and Efficiency
Medication administration in high-acuity settings is often complicated by multiple concurrent infusions, making accurate line identification essential. In a 10-hospital intensive care unit study, 60% of... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind AI Tool Detects Pulmonary Hypertension from Standard ECGs
Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive, life‑threatening disease that is frequently missed early because symptoms such as dyspnea are nonspecific and diagnostic delays can exceed two years.... Read more
Patient Care
view channel
Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disorder that makes breathing difficult and often disturbs sleep, reducing energy for daily activities. Limited engagement in pulmonary... Read more
Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read more
Health IT
view channel
EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation offers patients with end-stage kidney disease longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis, yet graft failure remains a major challenge. Although a successful transplant... Read more
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read more
Business
view channel
GE HealthCare Leads Major European Initiative to Advance Cardio-Oncology Care
Cardiovascular complications are increasingly recognized among people undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment, driven by pre‑existing disease and the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy,... Read more
