Table 2: Systematic Reviews on Endovascular Laser Treatment of VV.

Author	Year	Search Period	Review Objective	Evidence
HTA Reports - Endovascular Laser Treatment (ELT) of VV
MAS-HTA	2009	2007 – Aug 2009	Systematic review of evidence of the safety, effectiveness, durability and cost effectiveness of ELT for VV to support public financing decisions	Reports (3 HTA, 12 SR, 13 RCT, 3 CCT, 28 CS)
CADTH	2009	2004 – May 2009	To review the clinical and cost effectiveness of ELT for VV	Reports (1 HTA, 4SR, 1RCT, 1 CCT, 2 CE, 2 costing)
MSAC	2008	Jan 1997 – Aug 2007 (surgery) Sep 2003 – Aug 2007 (laser)	Systematic review of available evidence on ELT for VV to support public financing decisions	Safety [ELT 40 reports and surgery 22 reports (sample > 100)] Effectiveness: 1 SR, 2 RCT,3 CCT
NICE (Rapid Review)	2003	To Feb 2003	Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ELT of the long saphenous vein	5 case series
Systematic Reviews – Endovascular Laser Treatment of VV
Darwood et al. (41)	2009	1950 – Dec 2008	To identify original reports and RCT studies reporting outcomes for ELT	98 original studies (5 RCT)
Hoggan et al. (49)	2009	1997 – Aug 2007 (surgery) Sep 2003 - Aug 2007 (laser)	To compare the safety and effectiveness of ELT and surgery for VV	59 studies: 4 RCT, 3 CCT, 37CS, 15 different comparators
Van Den Bus et al. (58)	2009	Not stated	To inform clinicians about ELT and review the safety and effectiveness of ELT for varicose	237 reports (1 RCT)
Van Den Bus et al. (62)	2009	2007 – July 2008	To review common and rare complications associated with ELT	34 studies
Mundy et al. (50)	2005	Jan 1966 – Sep 2004	To assess the safety and effectiveness of ELT for VV	13 case series
Systematic Reviews – All Treatments for VV
Bacho et al. (63)	2009	Not Stated	To review the evidence regarding interventions (compression, sclerotherapy, surgery and endoluminal) for uncomplicated VV	ELT: 3 RCT, 1CCT, 3 case series
Leopardi et al. (55)	2009	Jan 1988 – Feb 2008	To review the safety and effectiveness of varicose vein treatments (conservative therapy, sclerotherapy, phlebectomy, ELT, radiofrequency ablation and surgery involving saphenous vein ligation and stripping) for	ALL: 4 SR, 10 RCT, 3 CCT
Van Den Bus et al. (58)	2009	To Feb 2007	Effectiveness of 4 therapies for lower extremity varicosities (foam sclerotherapy, ELT, radiofrequency, surgical ligation and stripping)	ELT: 30 case series
Badri et al. (54)	2008	Not stated	To compare safety and effectiveness of ELT, radiofrequency and sclerotherapy to surgery (ligation and vein stripping) for VV	ELT: 3 RCT, 10 case series
Luebke et al. (56)	2008	1970 – 2007	To assess the safety/effectiveness of endoluminal therapies (ELT, RF ablation, foam sclerotherapy) compared to conventional surgery	ELT: 3 RCT, 29 case series
Subramonia et al. (57)	2007	To 2005	To review the evidence for new endoluminal interventions for lower limb varicoses	ELT: 11 case series

CADTH, refers to the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technology in Health Care; MSAC, Medical Services Advisory Committee; NICE, National Institute for Clinical Excellence; CCT, Controlled clinical trial; CE, Cost effectiveness; CS, Cohort series; ELT, Endovascular laser treatment; HTA, Health technology assessment; SR, Systematic review