ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Acta Phlebologica 2021 April;22(1):20-3

DOI: 10.23736/S1593-232X.21.00488-4

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Endovenous microwave ablation of varicose veins: early Egyptian experience

Ayman M. FAKHRY ¹ ✉, Sohiel A. NAGIB ², Armia N. SARGIOUS ³

¹ Department of Vascular Surgery, Egyptian Military Academy, Alexandria, Egypt; ² Department of Vascular Surgery, Alexandria Armed Forces Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt; ³ Department of Vascular Surgery, Glan Clwyd Hospital, North Wales, UK

BACKGROUND: Incompetence at the Sapheno-femoral junction (SFj) is the most common cause (70%) of varicose veins. NICE guidelines recommended thermal ablation as the first line of treatment of varicose veins. Microwave ablation has all the advantages of radiofrequency ablation and the latest laser fibers. It does not become in contact with the vein wall and acts on the water within the cells of the vessel wall. The first case was performed in February 2019 by Mark Whitely in London. We started our study six months later. Proving the safety and efficacy of microwave catheter ablation in the treatment of varicose veins.
METHODS: Ten patients admitted to Alexandria Military Hospital starting from August 1^st 2019 to December 30^th 2019 with primary varicose veins (C2-5). All were treated by microwave ablation of GSV.
RESULTS: The age of participants was 35.6+0.2 years (M/F: 6/4). Dilated veins were on isolated left lower limb in6 patients and one patient on the right side while 3 patients had bilateral varicosities. The mean Vein diameter was +9.2 MM. (6-15 MM). All patients were treated by microwave catheter flush to the SFJ. With tumescent Anesthesia and showed absent reflux postablation. All patients ran a smooth postoperative course without major complications. Pain score dropped to 5.4, responded well to simple analgesia.
CONCLUSIONS: Microwave catheter ablation is a safe and effective method in the treatment of varicose veins with an expected lower recurrence rate and fewer complications than laser or radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins.

KEY WORDS: Microwaves; Varicose veins; Ablation techniques