Great saphenous vein ablation with steam injection: results of a multicentre study

To assess the safety and efficiency of steam vein sclerosis (SVS) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) in a multicentre open prospective cohort study.

75 consecutive adult patients with GSV reflux, CEAP C2-C5 and vein diameter 4-13 mm.

Patients treated using an SVS™ generator delivering homogenous pulses of superheated steam were followed up at 8 days and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months (clinical, duplex ultrasound, quality of life [QoL] with SF12).

88 veins were treated in 75 patients. At 6 months, 72/75 (96%) veins were obliterated (95% CI: 89-99) and Kaplan-Meier analysis found an obliteration rate of 96.1% at 12 months. QoL increased at 6 months for both the physical and mental components (p = 0.049 and p < 0.001 respectively). SVS was well tolerated: no major complications were reported. Adverse events occurred mainly at day 8 and incidents amounted to ecchymosis (n = 60) and pain (n = 7).

SVS achieved an obliteration rate similar to that of other thermal ablation techniques. It was well tolerated with minimal post-operative pain.