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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00621062

Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing the New Endovenous Procedures Versus Conventional Surgery for Varicose Veins Due to Great Saphenous Vein Incompetence

Through a prospective RCT evaluate and compare the three new endovenous methods for great saphenous vein ablation (Radiofrequency, endovenous laser and foam sclerotherapy) versus high ligation and stripping. Procedure (proof-of-concept) and patient related (clinical outcome) factors will be studied.

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Key information

Conditions

Varicose Veins Cardiovascular Diseases Disease Attributes Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Recurrence Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Vascular Surgery; Central Hospital of Västerås

Västerås, 72189, Sweden

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Clinical examinations by an experienced surgeon as well as duplex evaluation. Duplex evaluation of both the deep and the superficial system is required but not of the perforating vessels. It is performed by experienced BMA or surgeon with profound knowledge in vein diagnosis with duplex.
  • Patients with primary varicose vein disease between age 18 to 75.
  • Signature of informed consent.
  • Varicose veins and duplex verified GSV incompetence defined as >0,5 seconds reflux time after manual compression in upright position 60 degrees.
  • Vein size <20 mm in upright position 60 degrees, 2 cm below the SFJ.
  • Minimum distance between skin and the GSV in the first 20 cm from the SFJ > 5mm.
  • CEAP classification C2-C5
  • BMI <35

Exclusion criteria

  • Non-consent for randomisation.
  • Age <18 years.
  • Age >75 years.
  • Deep vein insufficiency in the same extremity (duplex verified).
  • Vein size >20mm in upright position 60 degrees below the SFJ.
  • Meander and superficial veins with a distance of <5mm to the skin surface ( RF or Laser cannot be applied).
  • Patients with double GSV's and/or lateral accessory insufficient branch.
  • Patients with cognitive disturbances, dementia or unable to understand for any reason the importance of follow up.
  • Earlier operation with HL/S (recurrency).
  • Operated for small saphenous vein (SSV) incompetence the last 3 months.
  • Known ABI <0,9 or history of intermittent claudication or peripheral pulselessness (clinical examination)in either extremity.
  • Patients with recent cancer diagnosis or undergoing cancer treatment.
  • BMI >35.
  • Patients with other known medical condition that contradict any of the treatments in the study.
  • Minimum distance between skin and the GSV in the first 20 cm from the SFJ >5mm.

Treatment and study plan

High Ligation of the GSV

Procedure

Performed in local or general anesthesia in accordance to clinical praxis and the patients own preference. After high ligation the GSV is stripped from the groin to the most distant insufficient part or just under the knee joint.All proximal branches are ligated. Including the superficial epigastric vein. The stripping instrument can be inserted in either cranial or caudal direction but all veins are stripped in the cranio-caudal direction.

Endovenous laser ablation

Procedure

Laser ablation is performed in tumescence anesthesia which is performed with a 150-200 ml (sometimes more is required, up to 400ml in patients with a poorly formed saphenous sheath) solution of lidocaine with adrenaline supplement. General sedation can be administrated as a supplement (with intravenous Propofol or Dormicum when needed). Laser is performed under duplex guidance and the catheter is inserted percutaneously into the GSV at knee level and parked distant to the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) just distal to the superficial epigastric vein. Laser ablation is performed down to the most distal insufficient part of GSV or just below the knee joint. We use an effect of 14 Watt administration of 70-80 J / cm at a continuous mode at a speed of 1cm/5sec.

Radiofrequency ablation

Procedure

RF ablation is performed in tumescence anesthesia which is performed with a 150-200 ml solution (same as above) of lidocaine with adrenaline supplement. General sedation can be administrated as a supplement (with intravenous Propofol or Dormicum when needed). RF is performed under duplex guidance and the Closure-FAST catheter is inserted percutaneously into the GSV at the knee level and parked distant to the SFJ just distal to the superficial epigastric vein. Probe size and length used for RF is chosen in accordance to the manufacturer's recommendation and with a probe temperature of 120 degrees C. RF closure is performed down to the most distal insufficient part of GSV or just under the knee joint.

Foam sclerotherapy

Procedure

Sclerosant foam consists of 2ml 3% aethoxysclerol mixed with 8ml air (Tessari method). A maximum of 10 ml is injected. Access to the vein for the sclerosant is gained by a duplex guided puncture or a mini incision mid-thigh or just above the knee and the amount of sclerosant foam used is 2,5-10 ml. Duplex is used prior to the operation in order to mark the vein and during the operation in order to control the extent of the sclerofoam. Duplex validates that foam is deposed to the whole length of the GSV. Blood from the veins is drained by means of elevation prior to the deposition of the sclerofoam. The leg is then bandaged with elastic bandage.

Primary outcomes

  1. Recurrence rate and complications after venous surgery. Duplex ultrasound and clinical evaluation.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Quality of Life with SF36, Aberdeen Vein Score, VCSS and Visual Analogue Scale Scoring.

    Time frame: 3 years

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Uppsala University

Other

Collaborators

  • Centrallasarettet Västerås

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Prospective Trial of Varicose Vein Surgery

Acronym: RAFPELS

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Feb 22, 2008
Registry last updated
Feb 3, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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