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Current Management of Venous Diseases pp 115–132Cite as

Radiofrequency Ablation for Lower Extremity Venous Reflux

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Abstract

Lower extremity chronic venous disease is a significant public health problem and can have considerable negative effects on functional status in its advanced stages. Invasive interventions are indicated when the disease is symptomatic and refractory to compression therapy. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is much less invasive than surgical vein stripping with an excellent long-term success rate and acceptable recurrence rates compared to surgery. Postoperative pain and discomfort after RFA is much less than surgery, and patients have faster recovery with a higher quality of life during the perioperative period. Attention to proper technique, knowledge of venous anatomy and pathophysiology, and an understanding of ultrasound imaging while performing RFA will assure the best possible clinical results and diminish potential complications. RFA has been demonstrated to have less pain and bruising compared with laser ablation methods. It is now a well-established clinical treatment for superficial venous reflux and will be used as a standard of comparison for future technologies.

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Abbreviations

CVI:

Chronic venous insufficiency

DVT:

Deep venous thrombosis

EHIT:

Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis

EVLA:

Endovenous laser ablation

GSV:

Great saphenous vein

PAD:

Peripheral arterial disease

PE:

Pulmonary embolus

RFA:

Radiofrequency ablation

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, 912 S. Washington Ave, Saginaw, MI, 48601-2578, USA

    John Blebea MD, MBA

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 4502 E. 41st Street, Tulsa, OK, 74135-2512, USA

    Zhamak Khorgami MD

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  1. John Blebea MD, MBA
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  2. Zhamak Khorgami MD
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Correspondence to John Blebea MD, MBA .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Cassius Iyad Ochoa Chaar

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Blebea, J., Khorgami, Z. (2018). Radiofrequency Ablation for Lower Extremity Venous Reflux. In: Chaar, C. (eds) Current Management of Venous Diseases . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65226-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65226-9_9

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