Impact of adjunctive venoactive drug therapy on symptom relief and quality of life following radiofrequency ablation for symptomatic great saphenous vein incompetence

Objective To examine the association between postoperative adjuvant venoactive drug (VAD) use and symptom relief and quality of life (QoL) in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for symptomatic varicose veins of the great saphenous vein (GSV). Methods This retrospective cohort study screened 565 consecutive patients who underwent RFA for symptomatic GSV varicose veins between June 2022 and June 2024. After application of the eligibility criteria, 500 patients were included and classified according to postoperative VAD use into a standard-care group ( n = 250) and a standard-care plus VAD group ( n = 250). Postoperative complication rates, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ) scores were compared. Results The observation group had a significantly lower total complication rate (3.60% vs 12.80%, P < 0.05). VCSS scores at 1 week and 3 months and NRS scores at 1 day, 1 week, and 3 months were lower in the observation group ( P < 0.05). CIVIQ scores were significantly higher in the observation group at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively ( P < 0.05). Exploratory subgroup analyses showed generally consistent between-group patterns across the predefined age, disease-duration, and sex subgroups. Conclusion Adjunctive VAD therapy following GSV RFA was associated with fewer postoperative complications, lower VCSS and NRS scores, and higher CIVIQ scores. These findings support further prospective evaluation of VAD therapy as an adjunct to postoperative management.