Clinical trial NCT06971068: Vacuum-assisted Laser Ablation (VALA) for Treatment of Large Saphenous Veins
Official title: Endovenous Vacuum-assisted Laser Ablation (VALA) in the Treatment of Large Saphenous Veins (> 15 mm)
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Varicose Veins
Keywords: Vacuum-assisted Laser Ablation
large saphenous veins
varicose veins
EVLA
Lead sponsor: Center Of Phlebology
Sponsor class: NETWORK
First posted: 2025-05-14
Enrollment: 184
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 90
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA), including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), is considered the main method for the treatment of symptomatic truncal vein reflux. However, there are controversial data concerning their efficacy and safety in ablating large saphenous veins because of high risk of heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT), incomplete ablation and recanalization.1-5 The use of vacuum evacuation of the remaining intraluminal blood during endovenous laser ablation allows to decrease the risk of intraoperative (carbonization and destruction of the fiber lens) and postoperative complications (EHIT, hyperpigmentation, "string" feeling) and leads to reduction of recovery because of short period of vein resorption. The aim of the study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endovenous thermal ablation with or without vacuum evacuation for the treatment of incompetent large saphenous veins (\>15 mm).

Detailed description: Preoperatively all patients should be examined in a standing position clinically and with duplex ultrasound (DUS) marking of the diameters of the target great saphenous veins (GSV) or small saphenous veins (SSV) at the following levels:

* great saphenous vein: saphenofemoral junction (SFJ), vein ectasia below the SFJ by 3 cm, upper third of the thigh, middle third of the thigh, lower third of the thigh, upper third of the leg, middle third of the leg, lower third of the leg;
* small saphenous vein: saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ), ectasia below the SPJ by 3 cm, upper third of the leg, middle third of the leg, lower third of the leg.

It is recommended to calculate the required linear energy density (LEED) per centimeter of vein length using the following formula depending on the level of measurement of the target vein diameter: LEED=d\*k, where LEED is the linear energy density (J/cm), "d" is the vein diameter (mm), "k" is the coefficient based on the measurement level: upper half of the thigh - 10, lower half of the thigh - 8, upper half of the leg - 6, lower half of the leg - 4.

Under local anesthesia, the target vein is punctured and the introducer is then installed. For the first group of patients (ELVeS Radial 2ring fiber), there is no need for preliminary preparation of the fiber. For the second group (ELVeS Radial 2ring Pro fiber), it is recommended to fill the ELVes Radial 2ring Pro catheter with a pre-prepared heparin solution (200 ml 0.9% Na Cl + 1 ml (5000) heparin) before use. Passing the fiber and installing it in the orifice of the target vein. Performing tumescent anesthesia (1000 ml 0.9% NaCl, 10 ml 2% lidocaine, 0.25 ml 0.1% adrenaline, 56 ml 4% sodium bicarbonate at room temperature) with recording the volume of the solution used. Performing EVLA with recording the parameters at different levels (power, extraction rate). When performing laser obliteration in patients of the second group, the ELVeS Radial 2ring Pro fiber catheter is connected to a vacuum suction using a high-pressure line to evacuate residual blood from the lumen of the vein during EVLA. Compression underwear of class 2 according to RAL or class 3 according to ASQUAL (23-32 mm Hg).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age over 18 years
* Varicose veins of the lower extremities with clinical class C2-C6 with a diameter of the GSV or SSV ≥ 15 mm in a standing position
* Informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* pregnancy or lactation
* malignant neoplasms
* inability or unwillingness of any patient to wear compression stockings
* hypersensitivity to lidocaine
* concomitant diseases: diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, severe liver and kidney diseases, acute thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, skin and/or soft tissue infection, infectious diseases, obliterating peripheral arteriosclerosis, diabetic angiopathy, heart defects requiring surgical intervention, fever, toxic hyperthyroidism, obesity, tuberculosis, sepsis, blood cell composition disorder, all diseases requiring bed rest, heart disease with decompensation, known hereditary thrombophilia
* period after treatment for alcohol addiction
* sedentary lifestyle
* history of acute deep vein thrombosis
* history of superficial thrombophlebitis
* history of drug or other addiction
* use of oral contraceptives or other hormonal drugs

Primary outcomes:
measure: Occlusion of the treated GSV/SSV
timeFrame: One day, 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pain score and use of painkillers
timeFrame: One day, 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
measure: Clinical status
timeFrame: 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
measure: Severity of chronic venous diseases
timeFrame: 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
measure: Health related quality of life
timeFrame: one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
measure: Histological picture of the treated vein
timeFrame: 2 weeks, one month, 3 months post treatment
measure: Number of patients with adverse events
timeFrame: One day, 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
measure: Severity of hyperpigmentation
timeFrame: 2 weeks, one month, 3 months and 6 months post treatment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Minsk
country: Belarus
facility: Clinic in Uruchye
city: Minsk
country: Belarus
facility: Merci clinic
city: Minsk
country: Belarus
facility: SANTE clinic
city: Bishkek
country: Kyrgyzstan
facility: Center Of Phlebology
state: Chuy
city: Moscow
country: Russian Federation
facility: Laser Surgery Center
city: St. Petersburg
country: Russian Federation
facility: Innovative vascular centre
city: Tambov
country: Russian Federation
facility: Derzhavin Tambov State University
city: Tashkent
country: Uzbekistan
facility: Clinic of Modern Phlebology "VarikozOFF"
city: Tashkent
country: Uzbekistan
facility: Clinic of Modern Phlebology "VarikozOFF"
Study officials:
References:
citation: Van der Velden SK, Lawaetz M, De Maeseneer MG, Hollestein L, Nijsten T, van den Bos RR; Members of the Predictors of Endovenous Thermal Ablation Group. Predictors of Recanalization of the Great Saphenous Vein in Randomized Controlled Trials 1 Year After Endovenous Thermal Ablation. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2016 Aug;52(2):234-41. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2016.01.021. Epub 2016 Mar 16.
citation: Sufian S, Arnez A, Labropoulos N, Lakhanpal S. Endovenous heat-induced thrombosis after ablation with 1470 nm laser: Incidence, progression, and risk factors. Phlebology. 2015 Jun;30(5):325-30. doi: 10.1177/0268355514526588. Epub 2014 Mar 7.
citation: Bontinis V, Bontinis A, Koutsoumpelis A, Potouridis A, Giannopoulos A, Rafailidis V, Chorti A, Ktenidis K. Endovenous thermal ablation in the treatment of large great saphenous veins of diameters > 12 mm: A systematic review meta-analysis and meta-regression. Vasc Med. 2023 Oct;28(5):449-457. doi: 10.1177/1358863X231183997. Epub 2023 Jul 17.
citation: Elboushi A, Elsherbeni M, Gameel AM, et al. The 1470 radial endovenous laser ablation of the great saphenous vein larger than 12 mm: Is it a good option? A single-center expe-rience? Egyptian J Surg 2019; 38: 136-141.
citation: Dabbs EB, Mainsiouw LE, Holdstock JM, Price BA, Whiteley MS. A description of the 'smile sign' and multi-pass technique for endovenous laser ablation of large diameter great saphenous veins. Phlebology. 2018 Sep;33(8):534-539. doi: 10.1177/0268355517734480. Epub 2017 Sep 28.