Comparison of endovasal laser ablation and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy of saphenous veins

Varicose veins of the lower extremities is a chronic disease with primary veins extention of the subcutaneous veins of the lower extremities. According to various estimates, the prevalence of varicose disease reaches 60% of the adult population in different regions. The steadily progressing nature of the disease, as well as the importance of timely comprehensive treatment, requires a constant search for new optimal approaches to the treatment of varicose veins. The “gold” standard for the treatment of varicose veins with reflux along the main saphenous veins is endovasal laser ablation (EVLA), which in some cases has effectively replaced combined phlebectomy. The method has proven itself to be relatively safe, while effective and providing the opportunity to carry out treatment on an outpatient basis. However, it is not always possible to carry out thermal methods of obliteration of the main saphenous veins, and in such situations the best choice for treatment is ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) of the main saphenous veins. Despite thelong coexistence of both methods, there is no convincing data of treating patients with EVLA and UGFS. More than 50 russian and foreign articles from the open access were analyzed. Thelack of comparisons in the Russian articles and the contradictory nature of research results in foreign sources allow us to conclude that this issue requires further research and detailed study to determine the indications and the optimal treatment tactics using EVLA or UGFS.