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Comparative pilot study evaluating the treatment of leg veins with a long pulse ND:YAG laser and sclerotherapy
Charlotte M Coles1, Richard S Werner, Brian D Zelickson
1Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Center for Cosmetic Care, Edina, Minnesota, USA.
Background And Objective:
To date there have been very few side by side comparison studies of laser versus sclerotherapy in treating small leg veins. This study compares a long pulsed Nd:YAG laser with contact cooling to sclerotherapy for treating small diameter leg veins by evaluating objective and subjective clinical effects.
Study Design/Materials And Methods:
Twenty patients were selected with leg veins ranging from 0.25 to 3 mm at two comparable sites. One site was treated with long pulsed Nd:YAG laser and the other received sotradecol sclerotherapy. The patients followed up at 8 weeks for another possible laser retreatment and 3 months following the last treatment. Photographs were taken pre- and post-operatively and at each follow-up visit and used for objective comparative analysis. The patients also completed a Quality of Life survey.
Results:
Improvement was tabulated from the photographic assessment on an improvement scale from 0 (no change)-4 (greater than 75% clearing). The laser treated areas averaged 2.50 and sclerotherapy treated sites averaged 2.30. Patient surveys show 35% preferred laser and 45% choose sclerotherapy.
Conclusion:
This pilot study demonstrates that the Lyra Long Pulse Nd:YAG laser can yield results similar to sclerotherapy in the treatment of small leg veins.
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