Mechanochemical endovenous ablation for the treatment of great saphenous vein insufficiency

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and 1-year results of mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA) of great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency. Methods: A consecutive 106 patients were treated for primary GSV insufficiency with MOCA by the ClariVein device and polidocanol. The primary outcome measures were technical success, clinical success, and anatomic success after 1 year of follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were postprocedural pain, complications, general- and disease-specific quality of life, and time to return to work. Patients were evaluated with clinical examination and duplex ultrasonography at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after treatment. Results: The technical success was 99%. The mean post procedural pain during the first 14 days after treatment was 7.5 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 0.0-10.0 mm) per day on a 0- to 100-mm visual analog scale. The time to return to normal activities and work was 1.0 day (IQR, 0-1.0 day) and 1.0 day (IQR, 1.0-4.0 days), respectively. No major complications were recorded. At 1-year follow-up, the clinical success was 93%. The Venous Clinical Severity Score decreased significantly from 4.0 (IQR, 3.0-5.0) before treatment to 1.0 (IQR, 0-1.0) (P < .001) 1 year after MOCA. At 1 year, 88.2% of the treated GSVs remained occluded as measured by duplex ultrasonography. Twelve patients had a recanalization, of which eight were partial. Disease-specific quality of life and the RAND 36-Item Health Survey scores improved significantly at 1-year follow-up. Conclusions: MOCA is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of GSV insufficiency with good clinical and anatomic success at 1-year follow-up. The technique is related to low postprocedural pain scores, low complication rate, improved quality of life, and rapid resumption of normal activities and work.