5-YEAR CLINICAL RESULTS OF 1073 PATIENTS WITH VARICOSE VEINS TREATED USING RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION, ENDOVENOUS LASER ABLATION AND CYANOACRYLATE EMBOLISATION

Background: There is little research on the long-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, and cyanoacrylate embolization. This study retrospectively examined the clinical results of radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, and cyanoacrylate embolization methods. Materials and Methods: The population of the study consisted of 1256 patients who applied to the clinic with the diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency between the specified dates and were treated with endovenous varicose veins. Sample: 431 patients in the cyanoacrylate embolization group, 230 patients in the radiofrequency ablation group, 412 patients in the endovenous laser ablation group, a total of 1073 patients. Bilateral cyanoacrylate embolization, radiofrequency ablation, and endovenous laser ablation were not applied to the patients in the same session. Results: When the 1-year occlusion rates were examined, it was determined as 97.57%, 98.26%, and 95.59% in the endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and cyanoacrylate embolization groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in Venous Clinical Severity Score scores between the groups before and after the procedure. Pain, paresthesia, ecchymosis, pigmentation, induration, burn, deep vein thrombosis, and phlebitis were significantly more common in the endovenous laser ablation group. Conclusions: Complications were seen in the cyanoacrylate embolization group. Endovenous laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and cyanoacrylate embolization applications have similar long-term results. Therefore, cyanoacrylate embolization is recommended for chronic venous insufficiency patients who want to get rid of varicose veins and improve their quality of life

Treatment outcomes of postoperative mediastinitis in cardiac surgery; negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional treatment

Abstract Background The aim of the present study is to compare negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional treatment outcomes at postoperative mediastinitis after cardiac surgery. Methods Between January 2000 and December 2011, after 9972 sternotomies, postoperative mediastinitis was diagnosed in 90 patients. The treatment modalities divided the patients into two groups: group 1 patients (n = 47) were initially treated with the negative pressure wound therapy and group 2 patients (n = 43) were underwent conventional treatment protocols. The outcomes were investigated with Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, Student’s test and Fisher’s exact test. Results The 90-days mortality was found significantly lower in the negative pressure wound group than in the conventionally treated group. Overall survival was significantly better in the negative pressure wound group than in the conventionally treated group. Conclusion Negative pressure wound therapy is safe and reliable option in mediastinitis after cardiac surgery, with excellent survival and low failure rate when compared with conventional treatments.</p