Although minimally invasive and far safer than conventional surgery, complications can occur as with any medical procedure despite perfect technique and appropriate precautions. Minor complications following EVLA comprising discomfort, bruising, and phlebitis can occur in a small percentage of patients, they usually settle over time and recovery may be helped with NSAIDS and topical creams. More serious complications following EVLA are rare but include blood clots and nerve injury.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following EVLA alone is rare (<1/1,000) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is very rare (incidence unknown). Most cases occur in patients with risk factors for clotting such as prior DVT, hereditary clotting disorder, obesity and oral contraceptive use.
Sensory nerve injury following EVLA of the saphenous vein below the knee can occur in a small percentage of patients and will usually gradually improve over 3-6 months.
Motor nerve injury following EVLA of the small saphenous vein has been reported but is exceedingly rare and has never been encountered in our practice.
Skin burns are something we never expect to see and seem to occur because of operator or machine error. Whilst reported in the literature as a complication of EVLA, they are more common with Radiofrequency ablation particularly when performed by surgeons on patients under general anesthesia.