Pain following 980-nm endovenous laser ablation and segmental radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins: a prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain following endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and identify risk factors for increased pain.

METHODS: Patients undergoing either segmental RFA (VNUS Closure Fast, VNUS Medical Technologies, San Jose, California) or EVLA (980 nm) for varicose veins completed a preoperative disease-specific quality-of-life questionnaire (Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire [AVVQ]) and a diary card recording postoperative pain, return to normal activities, and return to work. Median 3- and 10-day pain scores were calculated.

RESULTS: In all, 81 patients returned diary cards (RFA = 45, EVLA = 36). Patients receiving RFA reported less postoperative pain than those receiving EVLA at 3 days (14.5 vs 25.8 mm, P = .053, Mann-Whitney U test) and 10 days (13 vs 23.3 mm, P = .014, Mann-Whitney U test) and returned to work earlier than those receiving EVLA (median 5 vs 9 days, P = .022).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with segmental RFA had less postoperative pain and returned to work quicker than those treated with EVLA.