search
Back to results

Trial of Radiofrequency Thermo-ablation Treatments of Great Saphenous Varicose Veins (3-RF Study)

Primary Purpose

Varicose Veins

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United Kingdom
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Venefit
Radiofrequency Induced Thermal Therapy
Endovenous Radiofrequency
Sponsored by
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Varicose Veins focused on measuring Radiofrequency ablation, varicose veins, endothermal ablation, RFITT, Venefit

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Symptomatic primary varicose veins of the great saphenous vein (GSV)
  • Able to give informed consent to participate in the study after reading the patient information sheet
  • Patients aged >18 years and < 80 years
  • Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) >/= 0.8

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to give informed consent
  • Pregnancy (female participants of reproductive age will be eligible for inclusion in the study, subject to a negative pregnancy test prior to randomisation)
  • Tortuous GSV not amenable to endovenous treatment
  • Recurrent varicose veins (previous surgery)
  • Presence of deep venous occlusive disease or other conditions precluding superficial venous intervention (at the discretion of the research team)
  • Patients who are needle phobic

Sites / Locations

  • Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm Type

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Active Comparator

Arm Label

Venefit

Radiofrequency Induced Thermal Therapy

Endovenous Radiofrequency

Arm Description

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation

Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Percentage of participants with 100% ablation of the previously treated vein segment
Duplex confirmed absence of recanalisation of the ablated

Secondary Outcome Measures

Pain score on the visual scale
Percentage of patients scoring pain in each category for the three treatments
Quality of life measured by SF36, Euroqual 5D and Aberdeen varicose veins questionnaire
Quantitative and qualitative comparison of 3 trial populations

Full Information

First Posted
April 27, 2015
Last Updated
October 28, 2017
Sponsor
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
search

1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT02441881
Brief Title
Trial of Radiofrequency Thermo-ablation Treatments of Great Saphenous Varicose Veins (3-RF Study)
Official Title
A Double Blind Randomised Controlled Trial of Radiofrequency Thermo-ablation Treatments of Great Saphenous Varicose Veins: Venefit (Closurefast) vs. Radiofrequency Induced Thermal Therapy (RFITT) vs. Endovenous Radiofrequency (EVRF).
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
October 2017
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
September 5, 2014 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
March 28, 2017 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
September 30, 2017 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

4. Oversight

Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
A double blind randomised controlled trial of radiofrequency thermal ablation treatments of great saphenous varicose veins: Venefit (Closurefast), vs. Radiofrequency induced Thermal Therapy vs. Endovenous Radiofrequency. Assessments by visual pain scores, duplex ablation and quality of life questionaires
Detailed Description
Purpose To establish which of the radiofrequency venous ablation modalities is most effective in preventing reflux in the treated segment of GSV six months following surgery. Design Results of randomised trials and meta-analyses have shown that endovenous thermal ablation using radiofrequency ablation and laser are associated with improved recovery compared with conventional surgery on the GSV. Further, radiofrequency (Closurefast) has been showed to cause less pain and require less analgesic intake than laser. There are two other radiofrequency devices that have theoretical advantages over the Closurefast technique. All three procedures have been used in clinical practice (including at Worcestershire Royal Hospital). There has been no trial to date which has directly compared the outcomes of the three radiofrequency thermal ablation devices. Recruitment Patients will be recruited from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust vascular surgical out-patient clinics. All patients will receive a duplex scan (Toshiba Viamo Ultrasound, Tokyo, Japan or Sonosite M-Turbo Bothell, Washington, USA) prior to entry into the trial to confirm their suitability for endovenous thermal ablation treatment. During this assessment patients will also have their CEAP (Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysiological) classification of severity and aetiology of venous disease score recorded. If the patient consents to the trial they will be asked to fill in the disease specific Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ)and generic quality of life SF-36 and Euroquol (EQ-5D) questionnaires and have their Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) calculated. Patients will be recruited to the trial following an appropriate explanation of the study (see patient information / consent sheet). Randomisation will be performed by a random number generator (www.random.org). Patients will be randomised to radiofrequency ablation either by Closurefast (Venefit, VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA), the Radiofrequency induced Thermal Therapy (RFiTT, Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe, Hamburg, Germany) or EndoVenous Radiofrequency (EVRF, Medical Innovations, Bolton, United Kingdom). All treatments are already in use in Worcestershire. Operation All treatments will be performed under local tumescent anaesthesia. Patients will receive thromboprophylaxis when indicated in line with the Hospital Trust's local thromboprophylaxis protocol. Procedures will be performed under duplex control (Sonosite M-Turbo, Bothell, Washington, USA) by an experienced vascular surgery Specialist Registrar or Consultant. The GSV will be catheterised percutaneously using a Seldinger technique at the level of the lowest point of reflux. The radiofrequency treatment catheter will be passed endoluminally to the level of the sapheno-femoral junction. Tumescent anaesthesia (50mg Prilocaine, 10mls 8.4% sodium bicarbonate in 1000mls 0.9% saline) will be injected in the peri-venous space in all patients (200 - 500ml). The position of the radiofrequency catheter will be confirmed just below the level of the sapheno-femoral junction prior to commencing the radiofrequency current and withdrawing the catheter to treat the vein in line with local practice. The Closurefast is withdrawn after a double treatment of the most proximal segment of the long saphenous vein and then segmentally thereafter, the RFiTT will be withdrawn continuously with retreatments, and the EVRF will be withdrawn in small stepwise movements (all as per the manufacturer's instructions for use). The volume of anaesthetic administered, length of vein treated and duration of the ablation will be recorded. In line with current NICE guidance (CG168), where necessary, patients will undergo avulsions of local varicosities at the same time. The number of avulsions will be recorded in both groups. Perforating veins will not be directly treated. Treated legs will be dressed with dressing pads a full length bandage (coban, 3M United Kingdom plc, Bracknell, Berkshire, UK) and compression hosiery. Patients will be discharged on the day of surgery (day-case) with oral analgesia as required and will be given contact information should any adverse events arise. Post-operative follow-up i) First week Patients will be asked to keep a pain score for the first post-operative week. This is a simple 10cm visual analogue score. All patients will be invited back to clinic at two weeks for a duplex scan (blind assessment). During this visit the vascular team will assess any complications in the area of ablation including bruising (digital photographic record), wound infection, neuralgia, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus. ii) Six months The primary endpoint of the study is an ablated GSV. Treatment failure will be defined as any segment of the treated trunk (> 2cm from the saphenofemoral junction) that is patent (compressible) and demonstrates reflux (>1 second) on duplex scanning. A number of secondary outcome measures will be evaluated in the study: Pain score/ analgesic requirements Time to return to normal activity Absence or recurrent varicose veins/return of symptoms Quality Of Life (QoL): Disease specific (AVVQ) and generic (EQ5D & SF36) quality of life assessments will be compared at 1 weeks post treatment, 6 months and 12 months. The 1-week questionnaire will be given to the patient at discharge, whereas other QoL questionnaires will be sent to the patient. AVVQ is the most widely utilised disease specific QoL tool in venous disease and has been extensively validated. A score out of 100 points is calculated, with a higher score indicating more severe QoL impairment. Other Markers Of Clinical Success: The Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) will be assessed at 6 months. In addition, the incidence of complications related to the endovenous intervention as well as the presence of residual / recurrent varicose veins will also be assessed at 2 weeks. Medium and longer-term endpoints (follow-up) will be performed at 2 years and 5 years. However, this is likely to be limited by the high rates (>20%) of drop-out reported in other studies.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Varicose Veins
Keywords
Radiofrequency ablation, varicose veins, endothermal ablation, RFITT, Venefit

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
ParticipantOutcomes Assessor
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
182 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Venefit
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation
Arm Title
Radiofrequency Induced Thermal Therapy
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation
Arm Title
Endovenous Radiofrequency
Arm Type
Active Comparator
Arm Description
Endovenous radiofrequency ablation device for truncal great saphenous vein ablation
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Venefit
Other Intervention Name(s)
Closurefast
Intervention Description
Endovenous radiofrequency device
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Radiofrequency Induced Thermal Therapy
Other Intervention Name(s)
RFITT
Intervention Description
Endovenous radiofrequency device
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Endovenous Radiofrequency
Other Intervention Name(s)
EVRF
Intervention Description
Endovenous radiofrequency device
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Percentage of participants with 100% ablation of the previously treated vein segment
Description
Duplex confirmed absence of recanalisation of the ablated
Time Frame
6 months
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Pain score on the visual scale
Description
Percentage of patients scoring pain in each category for the three treatments
Time Frame
7 days
Title
Quality of life measured by SF36, Euroqual 5D and Aberdeen varicose veins questionnaire
Description
Quantitative and qualitative comparison of 3 trial populations
Time Frame
12 months

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
80 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Symptomatic primary varicose veins of the great saphenous vein (GSV) Able to give informed consent to participate in the study after reading the patient information sheet Patients aged >18 years and < 80 years Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) >/= 0.8 Exclusion Criteria: Unable to give informed consent Pregnancy (female participants of reproductive age will be eligible for inclusion in the study, subject to a negative pregnancy test prior to randomisation) Tortuous GSV not amenable to endovenous treatment Recurrent varicose veins (previous surgery) Presence of deep venous occlusive disease or other conditions precluding superficial venous intervention (at the discretion of the research team) Patients who are needle phobic
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Isaac K Nyamekye, MD, FRCS
Organizational Affiliation
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Worcestershire Royal Hospital
City
Worcester
State/Province
Worcestershire
ZIP/Postal Code
WR5 1DD
Country
United Kingdom

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Citations:
PubMed Identifier
31351832
Citation
Nyamekye IK, Dattani N, Hayes W, Harding D, Holloway S, Newman J. A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Three Different Radiofrequency Technologies: Short-Term Results of the 3-RF Trial. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2019 Sep;58(3):401-408. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2019.01.033. Epub 2019 Jul 24.
Results Reference
derived
PubMed Identifier
31126836
Citation
Gough MJ. Radiofrequency Venous Ablation: Not Simple and Not Always Effective! Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2019 Sep;58(3):409. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2019.04.010. Epub 2019 May 21. No abstract available.
Results Reference
derived

Learn more about this trial

Trial of Radiofrequency Thermo-ablation Treatments of Great Saphenous Varicose Veins (3-RF Study)

We'll reach out to this number within 24 hrs