THE EFFICIENCY OF HIGH-FREQUENCY ENDOVENOUS WELDING FOR THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ACUTE ASCENDING THROMBOPHLEBITIS OF THE GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN

Abstract

Background. Acute ascending thrombophlebitis of the great saphenous vein (GSV) is an adverse complication of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Conventional surgical treatment comprises traumatic removal of thrombotic vein trunk by means of a Babcock probe. Endovascular welding is a promising, minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins, which may also be applied for hemodynamic correction of impaired venous blood flow of the lower extremities in urgent conditions. Material and methods. Thirty-six patients diagnosed with acute ascending thrombophlebitis type III and IV, stage C2-C6 (CEAP) were treated using an EK300M electric welding device (LLC Svarmed, Ukraine) for high-frequency electric welding of living tissues guided by endovenous probes. Changes in the treated venous trunks were analyzed by ultrasound, and quality of life before and after surgical treatment was evaluated using a chronic insufficiency venous international questionnaire (CIVIQ). Results. Twelve months after high-frequency endovenous electric welding 33 patients (91.41%) had complete occlusion and fibrous transformation in areas of the thrombus segments of the GSV. Two patients (5.54%) had hemodynamically insignificant partial recanalization of separate vein segments, and one patient (2.77%) had complete recanalization of the GSV trunk. Conclusions. Endoscopic welding is an effective, minimally traumatic alternative method for the surgical treatment of acute ascending thrombophlebitis III and VI type of the GSV.