Surgical Ligation, Laser Ablation, or Foam Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins?

Several options are available for treating patients with varicose veins. In this trial, researchers in the U.K. randomized 798 patients with primary symptomatic varicose veins to laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy, or surgical ligation and stripping. (In foam sclerotherapy, a foam sclerosing agent is injected under ultrasound guidance; in laser ablation, the vein is cannulated with a laser-tipped catheter). The great saphenous vein was involved in most cases.

At 6 months, disease-specific quality-of-life scores (according to questionnaire-based assessment of pain, swelling, skin changes, cosmetic concerns, and interference with activity) improved slightly more with surgery and laser than with foam, but only the surgery-versus-foam comparison…