CompletedNot Applicable

Steam Ablation Versus Endovenous Laser Ablation for the Treatment of Great Saphenous Veins

Netherlands237 participantsStarted 2009-11

Plain-language summary

Endovenous laser ablation is a common therapy of great saphenous vein insufficiency with a very high success rate. It works by heating and thereby obliterating the vein. Steam ablation is a new therapy that also works by heating and thereby obliterating the vein. The hypothesis of this study is that steam ablation is as effective as laser ablation, but that it results in better secondary outcomes (e.g., lower pain scores).

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients over 18 years old * Insufficiency of the GSV measured with ultrasound imaging, reflux \> 0.5 s, and diameter of vein \> 0.5 cm * Symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency * No prior treatment of the insufficient GSV * Informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Acute deep or superficial vein thrombosis * Agenesis of deep vein system * Vascular malformation or syndrome * Post-thrombotic syndrome, occlusive type * Pregnancy * Immobility * Allergy to lidocaine * Arterial insufficiency

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Obliteration of varicose vein and/ or absence of reflux (>0.5 sec. of retrograde flow over >10cm) along the treated segment of the great saphenous vein (GSV) at 12 and 52 weeks.

Timeframe: 52 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02046967

SponsorErasmus Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2013-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Varicose Veins trials