The effectiveness of endovenous laser ablation versus radio-frequency ablation in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower extremities

Objectives: To compare the improvement in symptoms and effectiveness in eliminating reflux of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) patients between two endovascular intervention methods: Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) and Radio-Frequency Ablation (RFA) in patients with venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Methods: This retrospective longitudinal descriptive study aimed to assess the recovery of symptoms and reflux in the veins using the Mean Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and vascular echography between the two intervention methods. Results: From January 2023 to January 2024, 129 patients underwent venous intervention at the Thoracic and Vascular Department of the University Medical Center in Ho Chi Minh City. Fifty-five patients underwent RFA, and the remaining 74 were treated with EVLA. The study included 44 male patients (34.1%) and 85 female patients (65.9%), with an average age of 55.8 years. All patients reported significant symptom improvement, though minor residual symptoms may have been underreported due to self-reported assessments. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that exercise habits and EVLA treatment independently contributed to symptom improvement, with p-values of 0.00001 and 0.03, respectively. Further subgroup analysis indicated that male patients and those with regular exercise habits experienced slightly faster symptom resolution. Conclusion: EVLA should be prioritized in the treatment of venous ablation for CVI patients indicated for intervention. Structured exercise programs should be actively recommended to optimize recovery and long-term outcomes.