A Prospective Study on the Efficacy of Endovenous Radiofrequency Ablation for Lower Extremity Varicose Veins

Background: Varicose veins are dilated subcutaneous tributaries that are ≥ 3 mm in diameter in the upright position. Although various surgical techniques can be used to treat varicose veins, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is being increasingly employed because of its faster recovery and better cosmetic results. Objectives: We used the Wong-Baker Visual Pain Score, Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20), clinical etiology anatomy pathophysiology (CEAP) classification, revised venous clinical severity score (VCSS), and Doppler ultrasonography to compare pre- and postoperative findings and to evaluate the efficacy of RFA. Materials and Methods: This single-center prospective study was conducted at the Department of Vascular Surgery from March 2024 to March 2025 at a teaching hospital. This study evaluated the short-term outcomes of RFA in patients with lower limb varicose veins, with follow-up assessments performed at 1 and 3 months postprocedure. Participants with primary varicose veins with or without venous ulcers were included in the study and those who underwent redo surgery and had recurrent varicose veins were excluded. A questionnaire was developed and pretested to assess the demographic details and tools among participants. Postprocedure, the scores were reassessed and compared with the preoperative scores. Results: In this study, 102 individuals with varicose veins were assessed, of which 30 were lost to follow-up. A significant reduction in great saphenous vein and small saphenous vein diameters and reflux was observed at 1 and 3 months postoperatively ( P < 0.001). Post-operative pain, CIVIQ-20, CEAP classification, and Revised VCSS showed significant improvement ( P = 0.0005*, P = 0.0005*, P = 0.00001*, and P = 0.0005*, respectively). Conclusion: RFA effectively improved the clinical outcomes and quality of life of the participants at 1 and 3 months postprocedure, demonstrating the efficacy of the treatment.