Background and aims: Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) has been well-reported as a minimally invasive method to deal with varices of the lower extremities. The lasers used fall into two categories: pigment, i.e., hemoglobin-specific lasers in the visible and near-infrared (near-IR) wavebands and longer wavelength mid-infrared lasers where the chromophore is water. The fiber used to deliver the laser energy is also important, and not enough attention has been paid to this element of EVLA. The present study was therefore designed to compare EVLA delivered through two specific fiber types coupled with a near-IR laser wavelength where water was the major chromophore.
Materials and methods: A laser diode system at the wavelength of 1470 nm was used as the laser energy source near a peak in the water absorption spectrum. Laser energy was delivered with two specific types of optical fiber, a Radial™ fiber and a Radial 2ring™ fiber (CeramOptec, Germany), and EVLA was evaluated using a computer simulation model taking light transport into account based on the Monte Carlo method and temperature distribution with the heat conduction equation.
Results and conclusions: It was confirmed from both the simulation model and a previously published ex vivo experiment that carbonization and sticking during EVLA caused by excess temperature rise can be minimized by using the Radial 2ring fiber compared with the Radial fiber, coupled with the 1470 nm wavelength. In the future, lasers with different wavelengths or optical fibers with differing irradiation modes may appear as candidate systems for EVLA. It is important to evaluate safety and efficacy carefully using the methods in the present study before moving to in vivo indications in human subjects.
Keywords: Monte Carlo method; computer simulation; endovenous laser ablation; heat conduction equation; varicose veins.