Table A5: Complications and Adverse Events Following Ablation of the Small Saphenous Vein.
| Author, Year, Country | Patients (p) Legs (L) Veins (V) | Follow-Up | Laser & | DVT | PE | Phlebitis | Parasthesia Dysesthesia | Nerve Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gibson 2007 United States |
187 p 210 L 366 V (54 SSV only, 156 GSV and 156 SSV) |
Mean 4.0 months | 980nm | 12 l (5.7%) at 2-4 days none were occlusive, (none at 2-11 months) | 0 | Numbness lateral malleolus of distal posterior calf at 2 and 6 weeks in 3 L (1.6%) – had also miniphlebectomy of vein branches near lateral malleolus | 0 | |
| Huisman 2009 Netherlands |
150 p 169 L 248 V (98 GSV and 98 SSV and 52 SSV) |
3 months At 2 months 150 L of 169 |
810nm | 0 | 0 | 6 superficial thromboplebitis (resolved spontaneously) | Numbness lateral lower leg and foot (sural nerve) 2 (1.3%); resolved after 2 months | |
| Kontothanas 2009 Italy |
204 p 229 L |
Mean 16 months (range: 2-39) | 980nm | 3 at 7 days none after 2 months | 0 | Superficial vein thrombosis 3 (1.3%) | Parasthesia from sural nerve injury 5 L (2.2%) at post op persisting in follow-up.. parasthesia was not noted in later series with increased amount tumescent saline | 1 sural nerve injury with permanent numbness at bilateral malleolus (sustained after redo laser) |
| Nwaejike* 2009 United Kingdom |
66 p 66 SSV |
6 weeks | 810nm | 0 | 0 | 2 superficial thrombophlebitis (resolved within 3 months) | 0 | 0 |
| Park, SW 2008 Korea |
84 p 96 L |
3 year | 980nm | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 (4%) parasthesia mid and distal aspect posterior calf at 1 week post-op (resolved by 1 year without treatment) | |
| Park, SJ 2008 Korea |
344 p 390 SSV |
12 months | 980nm | 0 | 0 | 8 (2.3%) palpable induration along vein overt phlebitic reaction treated by NSAIDs and compression | 7 (2%) localized skin parasthesia in lateral malleabar region (2p), lateral dorsum foot (4p) and lateral calf region (1 p); disappeared after 3 months in 6 p). | In 1 of the 7 with parasthesia SSV ran further laterally than usual in one assumed lateral cutaneous nerve injury cause parasthesia |
| Theivacumar 2007 United Kingdom |
65 p 68 L |
6 months | 810nm | 0 | 0 | 3 (4.4%) superficial phlebitis (treated with diclofenac sodium 50 mg) |
Note: No instances of skins burns, skin necrosis, or infections were reported in any of the included studies.
*
Two patients in Nwaejike et al. 2009 also suffered hematomas at the phlebectomy sites.