Five-year outcomes of mechano-chemical ablation of primary great saphenous vein incompetence

Objective The aim of the study is to report long-term results after mechano-chemical ablation for the treatment of great saphenous vein incompetence. Methods Mechano-chemical ablation was performed using the ClariVein device with polidocanol as the sclerosant. Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Pathophysiologic (CEAP) classification, Venous-Clinical-Severity-Score (VCSS), anatomical-success, RAND-SF36 and the Aberdeen-Varicose-Vein-Questionnaire (AVVQ) were obtained by clinical examination, questionnaires and duplex ultrasonography through five years’ follow-up (Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01459263). Results Ninety-four patients (113 great saphenous veins) were included in the study. Five-year follow-up data were available for 75 limbs (66.4%). Freedom from anatomical failure was 78.7% (N = 45) with 64.6% (N = 42) having an improvement in the VCSS ≥1. A total of five reinterventions were performed through five years with a median time to reintervention of 38 months. The VCSS at five years was 2 (IQR 1; 4) and was still significantly improved compared to baseline (p < 0.001). A deterioration of the VCSS was observed in 21.5%. Conclusion Through five-year follow-up, there are a significant number of anatomical and clinical failures in this series, mainly driven by partial recanalizations.