10. Post‐operative complications within three months.
| Early post‐operative complications (within three months) | ||||||||||||||||
| EVLA versus RFA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA | EVLA | RFA |
| Nordon 2011 | 2/78 (2.6) |
1/77 (1.3) |
2/78 (2.6) |
1/76 (1.3) |
0/78 (0) |
0/76 (0) |
2/78 (2.6) |
1/76 (1.3) |
0/78 (0) |
0/76 (0) |
||||||
| Rasmussen 2011a | 1/125 (0.8) |
0/121 (0) |
3/125 (2.4) |
6/121 (5) |
3/125 (2.4) |
8/121 (6.6 |
4/125 (3.2) |
12/121 (9.9) |
0/125 (0) |
1/121 (0.8) |
0/125 (0) |
0/121 (0) |
||||
| Recovery 2009 | 2/41 (4.9) |
1/46 (2.2) |
0/41 (0) |
1/46 (2.2) |
6/41 (14.6) |
0/46 (0) |
1/41 (2.2) |
0/46 (0) |
||||||||
| Shepherd 2010 | 2/64 (3) |
0/67 (0) |
5/64 (8) |
8/67 (12) |
1/64 (2) |
2/67 (3) |
2/64 (3) |
6/67 (9) |
5/64 (7) |
5/67 (7) |
2/64 (3) |
4/67 (6) |
0/64 (0) |
1/67 (1) PE |
||
| Syndor 2017 | 9/96 (9.4) |
13/97 (13.7) |
0/96 (0) |
0/97 (0) |
3/96 (3.1) |
3/97 (3.1) |
1/96 (1) |
1/97 (1.0) |
3/96 (3.1) |
2/97 (2.1) |
0/96 (0) |
0/97 (0) |
||||
| EVLA versus EVSA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA | EVLA | EVSA |
| LAST 2014 | 0/109 (0) |
1/117 (0.9) |
0/109 (0) |
0/117 (0) |
0/109 (0) |
0/117 (0) |
10/109 (9.2) |
10/117 (8.5) |
0/109 (0) |
0/117 (0) |
1/109 (0.9) DVT |
0/117 (0) |
||||
| EVLA versus UGFS | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS | EVLA | UGFS |
| Magna 2013 | 2/78 (2.6) |
1/77 (1.3) |
2/78 (2.6) |
1/77 (1.3) |
0/78 (0) |
0/77 (0) |
0/78 (0) |
0/77 (0) |
||||||||
| Rasmussen 2011a | 1/125 (0.8) |
1/124 (0.8) |
3/125 (2.4) |
2/124 (1.6) |
3/125 (2.4) |
8/124 (6.5) |
4/125 (3.2) |
17/124 (13.7) |
0/125 (0) |
4/124 (3.2) |
0/125 (0) |
1/124 (0.8) |
||||
| Vernermo 2016 | 31/73 (42) |
14/72 (20) |
1/73 (1) |
2/72 (2) |
3/73 (5) |
50/72 (67) |
3/73 (4) |
0/72 (0) |
||||||||
| EVLA versus CA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA | EVLA | CA |
| Calik 2019b | 28/200 (11) |
6/200 (3) |
63/200 (31) |
31/200 (15.5) |
14/200 (7) |
7/200 (3.5) |
2/200 (1) |
|||||||||
| EVLA versus MOCA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA | EVLA | MOCA |
| Vähäaho 2019 | 4/34 (12) |
0/65 (0) |
0/34 (0) |
1/65 (1.5) |
||||||||||||
| EVLA versus HL/S (surgery) | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S | EVLA | HL/S |
| Darwood 2008a | 0/80 (0) |
0/32 (0) |
1/80 (1) |
4/32 (13) |
1/80 (1) |
2/32 (6) |
9/80 (11) |
0/32 (0) |
0/80 (0) |
2/32 (6) |
0/80 (0) |
1/32c (3) |
||||
| Flessenkämper 2013 | 24/142 (17) |
23/159 (15) |
68/142 (48) |
108/159 (68) |
1/142 (0.7) |
1/159 (0.6) |
||||||||||
| HELP‐1 2011 | 1/137 (0.7) |
11/133 (8.3) |
4/137 (2.9) |
13/133 (9.8) |
5/137 (3.6) |
3/133 (2.2) |
4/137 (2.9) |
6/133 (4.5) |
2/137 (1.5) |
8/133 (6) |
||||||
| Magna 2013 | 2/78 (2.6) |
4/68 (5.9) |
2/78 (2.6) |
0/68 (0) |
0/78 (0) |
3/68 (4.4) |
0/78 (0) |
0/68 (0) |
||||||||
| Pronk 2010 | 2/62 (3) |
1/68 (1) |
||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen 2007a | 3/69d (5) |
5/68 (8) |
1/69 (2) |
1/68 (5.9) |
0/69 (0) |
0/68 (0) |
0/69 (0) |
1/68 (2) |
7/69 (11) |
15/68 (25) |
2/69 (3) |
2/68 (3) |
0/69 (0) |
1/68e (2) |
0/69 (0) |
0/68 (0) |
| Rasmussen 2011a | 1/125 (0.8) |
1/119 (0.8) |
3/125 (2.4) |
5/119 (4.2) |
3/125 (2.4) |
6/119 (5) |
4/125 (3.2) |
5/119 (4.2) |
0/125 (0) |
0/119 (0.8) |
0/125 (0) |
1/119 (0.8) |
||||
| RELACS 2012 | 169/185 (91) |
145/161 (90) |
20/185 (10.8) |
4/161 (2.5) |
1/185 (0.5) |
0/161 (0) |
3/185 (1.6) |
1/161 (0.6) |
||||||||
| Vernermo 2016 | 31/73 (42) |
40/65 (62) |
1/73 (1) |
2/65 (3) |
3/73 (4) |
3/65 (4) |
3/73 (4) |
3/65 (4) |
||||||||
| RFA versus UGFS | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS | RFA | UGFS |
| Rasmussen 2011a | 0/121 (0) |
1/124 (0.8) |
6/121 (0.8) |
2/124 (1.6) |
8/121 (6.6) |
8/124 (6.5) |
12/121 (9.9) |
17/124 (13.7) |
1/121 (0.8) |
4/124 (3.2) |
0/121 (0) |
1/124 (0.8) |
||||
| RFA versus CA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA | RFA | CA |
| Morrison 2015 | 3/114 (3) |
3/108 (3) |
1/114 (1) |
0/108 (0) |
16/114 (14) |
22/108 (20) |
1/114 (1) |
1/114 (1) |
0/114 (0) |
0/108 (0) |
||||||
| RFA versus MOCA | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA | RFA | MOCA |
| Lane 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
| MARADONA 2019 | 15/104 (14) |
14/105 (13) |
3/104 (3) |
1/105 (1) |
0/104 (0) |
0/105 (0) |
0/105 (0) |
1/104 (1) |
2/104 (2) |
7/105 (7) |
8/104 (8) |
12/105 (11) |
3/104 (3) |
|||
| Vähäaho 2019 | 1/65 (1.5) |
0/65 (0) |
||||||||||||||
| RFA versus HL/S (surgery) | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S | RFA | HL/S |
| EVOLVeS 2003 | 6/44 (14) |
18/36 (50) |
10/44 (23) |
5/36 (4.2) |
14/44 (32) |
23/36 (64) |
0/44 (0) |
2/36 (6)f |
0/44 (0) |
0/36 (0) |
||||||
| Helmy ElKaffas 2011 | 1/90 (1.1) |
30/90 (33.3) |
9/90 (10) |
3/90 (3.3) |
0/90 (0) |
0/90 (0) |
6/90 (6.6) |
0/90 (0) |
0/90 (0) |
3/90 (3.3) |
0/90 (0) |
1/90 (1.1) |
||||
| Rasmussen 2011a | 0/121 (0) |
1/119 (0.8) |
6/121 (4.9) |
5/119 (4.2) |
8/121 (6.6) |
6/119 (5) |
12/121 (9.9) |
5/119 (4.2) |
1/121 (0.8) |
1/119 (0.8) |
0/121 (0) |
1/119 (0.8) |
||||
| Rautio 2002 | 1/15 (7) |
4/13 (31) |
2/15 (13) |
3/13 (23) |
1/15 (7) |
0/13 (0) |
0/15 (0) |
0/13 (0) |
0/15 (0) |
0/13 (0) |
3/15 (20) |
0/13 (0) |
0/15 (0) |
0/13 (0) |
0/15 (0) |
0/13 (0) |
| Subramonia 2010 | 0/47 (0) |
0/47 (0) |
9/47 (19) |
20/41 (49) |
0/47 (0) |
0/41 (0) |
0/47 (0) |
7/41 (17) |
5/47 (11) |
0/41 (0) |
0/47 (0) |
0/41 (0) |
0/47 (0) |
0/41 (0) |
0/47 (0) |
0/41 (0) |
| UGFS versus HL/S (surgery) | ||||||||||||||||
| Study | Minor (not requiring intervention) (%) | Major (requiring intervention) (%) | ||||||||||||||
| Adverse event | Haematoma (wound or thigh) | Saphenous nerve injury | Thermal injury/ inflammation | Wound problems (groin/stab) | Bruising and pigmentation | Phlebitis | Wound problems | Other | ||||||||
| Technique | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S | UGFS | HL/S |
| FOAM 2010 | 0/217 (0) |
3/176 (1.7) |
0/217 (0) |
6/176 (3.4) |
17/217 (7.8) |
0/176 (0) |
0/217 (0) |
4/176 (2.3) |
0/176 (0) |
0/217 (0.9) |
||||||
| Magna 2013 | 1/77 (1.3) |
4/68 (5.9) |
1/77 (1.3) |
0/68 (0) |
0/77 (0) |
3/68 (4.4) |
0/77 (0) |
0/68 (0) |
||||||||
| Rasmussen 2011a | 1/124 (0.8) |
1/119 (0.8) |
2/124 (1.6) |
5/119 (4.2) |
8/124 (6.5) |
6/119 (5) |
17/124 (14) |
5/119 (4.2) |
4/124 (3.2) |
1/119 (0.8) |
1/124 (0.8) |
1/119 (0.8) |
||||
| Vernermo 2016 | 14/72 (20) |
40/65 (62) |
2/72 (2) |
2/65 (3) |
5/72 (7) |
3/65 (4) |
0/72 (0) |
3/65 (4) |
||||||||
aResults only available per limb, not per participant bTwo participants developed DVTs. cPost‐operative acute respiratory distress syndrome (requiring seven days intensive therapy unit (ITU) support) following aspiration post‐operatively dIn one participant, the saphenous thrombus extended into the femoral vein; it resolved without intervention. eGroin infection requiring antibiotics fIncludes one participant who required debridement and intravenous antibiotics for a 'thigh and calf infection'
CA: cyanoacrylate glue DVT: deep vein thrombosis EVLA: endovenous laser ablation EVSA: endovenous steam ablation HL/S: high ligation and stripping MOCA: mechanochemical ablation PE: pulmonary embolism RFA: radio frequency ablation UGFS: ultrasound‐guided foam sclerotherapy