A randomized clinical trial of isolated ambulatory phlebectomy versus saphenous thermal ablation with concomitant phlebectomy (SAPTAP Trial).
Scheerders ERY, van der Velden SK, Goossens LMA, Hamann SAS, de Maeseneer MGR, Malskat WSJ et al, for the members of the SAPTAP group.
Br J Surg 2023: 110: 333–342.
Some 464 patients had ambulatory phlebectomies first; 227 were randomized to subsequent saphenous trunk ablation. Only 57 (25 per cent) of patients who had phlebectomies alone required later truncal ablation on symptomatic grounds. Overall disease-specific quality of life was similar in both groups at one year.
Comment: This revolutionary study reverses the standard treatment of truncal ablation first. Longer term outcomes are needed to test the hypothesis fully.
22 March 2023
Read paperAcademy
Part of the charitable activity of the Society, BJS Academy is an online educational resource for current and future surgeons.
The Academy is comprised of five distinct sections: Continuing surgical education, Young BJS, Cutting edge, Scientific surgery and Surgical news. Although the majority of this is open access, additional content is available to BJS subscribers and strategic partners.
