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In a previously published, three-way randomized trial that involved 798 patients with symptomatic varicose veins of one or both legs, disease-specific quality of life at 6 months improved slightly more with laser ablation or with surgical ligation/stripping than with foam sclerotherapy (NEJM JW Gen Med Nov 1 2014 and N Engl J Med 2014; 371:1218). Now, the researchers report 5-year follow-up data.
At 5 years, disease-specific quality of life (as recorded on questionnaires that documented pain, swelling, skin changes, and interference with activity) improved significantly more with laser ablation or with surgery than with foam sclerotherapy. Improvement was similar in the laser ablation and surgery groups. Laser ablation was more cost-effectiv…