Recent research has not shown any advantage of laser therapy to standard surgery in the treatment of severe varicose veins.
Varicose veins are common problem. In varying degrees up to 30% of the adult population suffer from varicose veins. In severe cases, varicose can cause pain and inflammation in the leg (phlebitis), there is a risk of thrombosis and wounds appearance.
In severe cases surgery, called high ligation and saphenous vein stripping, is required to remove varicose veins. An important drawback of this procedure is a high risk of new varicose caused by regrowth of blood vessels.
Laser therapy, also known as laser coagulation or intravenous laser ablation, is a less invasive procedure, which cause destruction and disappearance of varicose. Side effects of this procedure are local inflammation, blood clots and change of skin color. The percentage of re-formation of varicose veins was almost the same after surgery and after laser removal of varicose veins.
Thus, researchers have come to believe that both procedures are equally effective and final decision which one to proceed depends on personal preference of patient.
It should be also mentioned the existence of alternative treatment, sclerotherapy. In this study, however, comparison with this treatment procedure of varicose veins was not made.