Comparison of clinical outcome of stripping and CHIVA for treatment of varicose veins in the lower extremities

The purpose of this nonrandomized case-review study was to compare the outc ome of stripping and CHIVA for treatment of varicose veins in the lower ext remities in our department. Outcome was evaluated by independent physicians . A total of 85 patients underwent saphenous vein stripping in association with phlebectomy and 90 patients underwent CHIVA cure. The duration of foll ow-up was 3 years. Study criteria were (1) presence of varicose veins as a cause of failure (1.1% in the CHIVA group vs. 15.3% in the stripping group) , (2) appearance of telangiectasia (8.9% in the CHIVA group vs. 65.9% in th e stripping group), (3) patient dissatisfaction rate (3.3% in the CHIVA gro up vs. 16.5% in the stripping group), (4) postoperative symptoms as a cause of failure (1.1% in the CHIVA group vs. 21.2% in the stripping group), and (5) saphenous nerve injury (1 patient in the CHIVA group vs. 16 in the str ipping group). Differences between all five criteria were significantly in favor of the CHIVA group as compared to saphenous vein stripping with phleb ectomy. Clinical results at 3 years are better for patients treated with CH IVA than stripping with regard to presence of varicose veins, clinical symp toms, presence of telangiectasia, cosmetic satisfaction, and neurologic com plications. Data in our series of CHIVA treatments are comparable to those reported in the literature and better than those described in three series of stripping procedures with 3-year follow-up. A prospective randomized stu dy is now underway to confirm these findings.