Mechanochemical Endovenous Ablation of Small Saphenous Vein Insufficiency Using the ClariVein® Device: One-year Results of a Prospective Series

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility, safety and 1-year results of mechanochemical endovenous ablation (MOCA(TM)) of small saphenous vein (SSV) insufficiency. Design: Prospective cohort study. Materials and methods: Fifty consecutive patients were treated for primary SSV insufficiency with MOCA(TM) using the ClariVein (R) device and polidocanol. Initial technical success, complications, patient satisfaction and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score were assessed. Anatomic and clinical success was assessed at 6 weeks and at 1 year. Results: Initial technical success of MOCATM was 100%. At the 6-week assessment, all treated veins were occluded. The 1-year follow-up duplex showed anatomic success in 94% (95% confidence interval, 0.87-1). Venous clinical severity score (VCSS) decreased significantly from 3.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 2-5) before treatment to 1.0 (IQR 1-3, P < 0.001) at 6 weeks and to 1.0 (IQR 1-2, P < 0.001) at 1 year. Median procedural VAS score for pain was 2.(IQR 2-4). No major complications were observed, especially no nerve injury. Conclusions: MOCATM is a safe, feasible and efficacious technique for treatment of SSV insufficiency. One-year follow-up shows a 94% anatomic success rate and no major complications. (C) 2012 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.