Background:

Venous insufficiency is a frequent disease that can be managed by endovascular techniques, including endovenous laser ablation therapy.

Objective:

To evaluate short term complications derived from endovenous laser ablation therapy for venous insufficiency of the major and minor saphenous veins.

Methods:

158 lower extremities with clinical and Doppler ultrasound diagnosis of superficial venous insufficiency. Ultrasound guided endovenous laser ablation was performed with a 1470 nm laser and radial fiber (400 and 600 nm). The procedures were ambulatory and follow-up consultation was performed 15-30 days post-treatment.

Results:

32 patients (20%) developed the following minor complications: pain (10.7%), paresthesia (6.3%), seroma (2, 1.2%), hematoma (0.6%), symptomatic ecchymosis (0.6%) and superficial thrombophlebitis (1.2%). There were no major complications.

Conclusions:

Our results coincide with what is reported in the literature and no major complications were observed. Hence, we consider that endovenous laser ablation is a safe procedure.