Background: The goal of this prospective cohort study was to study the different determinants impacting primary varicose vein recurrence rates and patterns after endo venous laser ablation (EVLA) for primary lower limb varicose veins.
Patients and Methods: 127 symptomatic patients (127 limbs) with great saphenous vein reflux (>0.5 seconds), GSV diameter> 3mm and pre-operative incompetent perforators were followed up within two years for recurrence after EVLA.
Outcomes: Recurrence was defined clinically by venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and CEAP classification and radiologically by patterns of reflux on duplex ultrasound examination. Assessment was done at 1, 6, 12 and 24 months after the procedure. Results: Two-year life table analysis showed varicose vein recurrence in 9 (7.1%) of limbs. Varicose vein recurrence was mostly seen owed to due to BMI more than 30.5 kg/m2 in 77.8 % (p <0.001, 95% CI 1.105 to 1.590) of recurrence patients, refluxing anterior accessory saphenous vein in 77.8% of patients (p <0.001, 95% CI 3.2 to 1669.1) and postoperative incompetent perforators in 77.8% of patients (p <0.001, 95% CI 2.7 to 69.3). Age, gender and pre-operative GSV diameter ≥ 5.5 mm were statistically insignificant in determination of recurrence. Conclusion: BMI, refluxing anterior accessory saphenous vein and postoperative incompetent perforators are the most important
determinants of recurrence after EVLA with a statistically significant impact in comparison with age, gender and preoperative dilated GSV diameter ≥5.5 mm.