A prospective, multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effect after short-term compression therapy following thermal ablation of varicose veins. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following treatments: (A) elastic bandage for 48h or (B) elastic bandage for the first 24h and then a compression full-length stocking (23-32mm Hg) for 1 week. The two groups will be compared on several variables, including target vein occlusion rate at 3 months (primary outcome indicator) , as well as pain, quality of life, clinical severity of varicose veins, postoperative complications, time to return to normal work, and compliance.~The current study will take place in nine hospitals in six provinces in China. Target Population Patients referred to those with primary lower extremity saphenous varicose veins diagnosed in 9 target hospitals from April 2023 to August 2023, and all participants included in the trial signed an informed consent form.~Intervention~Group A: elastic bandage for 48h Group B: elastic bandage for the first 24h and then a compression full-length stocking (23-32mm Hg) for 1 week Follow-up~At baseline, patients will be asked to fill a validated visual analogue scale (VAS) , quality of life questionnaires (AVVQ), and clinical severity of varicose veins (VCSS) . They will also be asked to attend a follow-up in 1 week and at 3 months.~At 1 week, target vein closure rate will be examined by double ultrasound scan (DUS) and patients will be asked to fill VAS, AVVQ, VCSS, postoperative complications , time to return to normal work, and compliance.~At 3 months, target vein closure rate will be examined by double ultrasound scan (DUS) and patients will be asked to fill VAS, AVVQ, VCSS, postoperative complications , time to return to normal work, and compliance.~Sample Size~The target vein closure rate in the control group was set to 98%, and α=0.025 (unilateral) and (1-β)=0.9 were taken, combined with clinical expert recommendations, a non-inferiority threshold δ of -6% was taken. We would need to recruit 230 patients (115 per group) to show a difference. However, to increase the robustness of the results, considering a potential lost-to-review rate of 20% of study subjects, combined with the low probability of adverse events in this trial, the total sample size was expanded to 360.~Study duration~With 3 months follow-up, therefore, the study will be running for 12 months with a target recruitment of 360 patients.
A prospective, multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial is designed to evaluate the effect after short-term compression therapy following thermal ablation of varicose veins. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of the following treatments: (A) elastic bandage for 48h or (B) elastic bandage for the first 24h and then a compression full-length stocking (23-32mm Hg) for 1 week. The two groups will be compared on several variables, including target vein occlusion rate at 3 months (primary outcome indicator) , as well as pain, quality of life, clinical severity of varicose veins, postoperative complications, time to return to normal work, and compliance.