{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T08:14:20Z","timestamp":1773389660551,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773360000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Compression therapy is routinely recommended after the thermal ablation of varicose veins (VVs), but the optimal duration of treatment remains controversial. International guidelines acknowledge the lack of evidence to support a specific duration of compression therapy (grade 2C). In current clinical practice, the selection of therapy options (1\u20133\u202fmonths or even longer) rely mainly on the clinical judgment of physicians, with significant variability in patient compliance and quality of life. This trial aims to determine the effects of different compression durations (1, 3, and 6\u202fmonths) on recurrence, quality of life, and complications at 12\u202fmonths after surgery.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This will be a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group trial. This study will include 600 patients with great saphenous vein insufficiency (C2\u2013C6) treated with endovenous radiofrequency or laser ablation at 7 high-volume centers. The participants will be randomly assigned to the following groups at a 1:1:1 ratio: the one-month (OM) group, which will wear class II compression stockings (23\u201332\u202fmmHg) for 1\u202fmonth after surgery; the three-month (TM) group, which will wear compression stockings for 3\u202fmonths; and the six-month (SM) group, which will wear compression stockings for 6\u202fmonths. All the groups will wear the same compression stockings and follow the same instructions for wearing the stockings. The primary outcome is the recurrence of VVs at 12\u202fmonths; the secondary outcomes include the closure rate of the great saphenous vein, disease-specific quality of life assessed by the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ), the Chronic Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ) score, the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), the incidence of postoperative complications (pain, ecchymosis, paresthesia, deep vein thrombosis, etc.), and patient compliance. The follow-up times are 1, 3, 6, and 12\u202fmonths after surgery.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This trial fills a key gap in evidence concerning the optimal duration of compression therapy after endovenous thermal ablation and the effect of providing optimal compression therapy on recurrence. The results of this study will provide high-level evidence for a standardized duration of compression therapy and contribute to updated future clinical guidelines.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical trial registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      <jats:ext-link>chictr.org.cn<\/jats:ext-link>\n                      , identifier ChiCTR2100049550.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1744286","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T05:26:41Z","timestamp":1773379601000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effect of different durations of compression therapy on quality of life and recurrence after thermal ablation for varicose veins: a protocol for a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Lin","family":"Yang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi\u2019an Jiaotong University","place":["Xi\u2019an, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Zhang","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Army Medical University","place":["Xi\u2019an, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chunmin","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, ChaoYang Hospital of Capital Medical University","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ruipeng","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial Peoples\u2019 Hospital","place":["Xi\u2019an, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Liang","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Interventional Vascular Surgery, Dongguan People\u2019s Hospital","place":["Dongguan, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jiehua","family":"Qiu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University","place":["Nanchang, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ye","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University","place":["Urumqi, China"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"649","DOI":"10.1177\/1708538116648035","article-title":"Which endovenous ablation method does offer a better long-term technical success in the treatment of the incompetent great saphenous vein?","volume":"24","author":"Balint","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vascular"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.1177\/02683555211044959","article-title":"Current strategies for endovascular management of varicose veins: an updated review of superficial ablation technologies","volume":"37","author":"Ojha","year":"2022","journal-title":"Phlebology"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101842","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2024.101842","article-title":"Endovenous radiofrequency ablation vs laser ablation in patients with lower extremity varicose veins: a meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Jiang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"355","DOI":"10.1024\/0301-1526\/a001091","article-title":"A systematic review of endovenous ablation for the treatment of small saphenous varicose veins","volume":"52","author":"Tan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vasa"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101670","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2023.08.011","article-title":"The 2023 Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, and American Vein and Lymphatic Society clinical practice guidelines for the management of varicose veins of the lower extremities. Part II: endorsed by the Society of Interventional Radiology and the Society for Vascular Medicine","volume":"12","author":"Gloviczki","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"847","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2016.09.005","article-title":"Post-operative benefit of compression therapy after endovenous laser ablation for uncomplicated varicose veins: a randomised clinical trial","volume":"52","author":"Ye","year":"2016","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.1097\/SLA.0000000000003626","article-title":"Randomized controlled trial of compression after endovenous thermal ablation of varicose veins (COMETA trial)","volume":"273","author":"Bootun","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Surg"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"546","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2018.01.021","article-title":"The role of compression after endovenous ablation of varicose veins","volume":"6","author":"Al Shakarchi","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2019.08.020","article-title":"Post-procedural compression vs. no compression after radiofrequency ablation and concomitant foam sclerotherapy of varicose veins: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial","volume":"59","author":"Pihlaja","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2020.03.014","article-title":"Editor\u2019s choice - role of compression after radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins: a randomised controlled trial","volume":"60","author":"Onwudike","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14833","DOI":"10.1111\/iwj.14833","article-title":"Investigating low rates of compliance to graduated compression therapy for chronic venous insufficiency: a systematic review","volume":"21","author":"Stevenson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int Wound J"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102238","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2025.102238","article-title":"A comparison and AGREE II analysis of the revised Society for Vascular Surgery\/American Venous Forum\/American Vein and Lymphatic Society and European Society for Vascular Surgery clinical practice guidelines in the management of varicose veins","volume":"13","author":"Tedesco","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"CD002303","DOI":"10.1002\/14651858.CD002303.pub4","article-title":"Compression for preventing recurrence of venous ulcers","volume":"3","author":"de Moraes Silva","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst Rev"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1177\/0268355516682885","article-title":"Advantages and disadvantages of graduated and inverse graduated compression hosiery in patients with chronic venous insufficiency and healthy volunteers: a prospective, mono-centric, blinded, open randomised, controlled and cross-over trial","volume":"33","author":"Riebe","year":"2018","journal-title":"Phlebology"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"406","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2017.11.025","article-title":"A summation analysis of compliance and complications of compression hosiery for patients with chronic venous disease or post-thrombotic syndrome","volume":"55","author":"Kankam","year":"2018","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"72","DOI":"10.1016\/j.avsg.2016.08.008","article-title":"Compression versus no compression after endovenous ablation of the great saphenous vein: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"38","author":"Ayo","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann Vasc Surg"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"669","DOI":"10.1186\/s13063-023-07609-1","article-title":"Effect of short-term compression therapy after thermal ablation for varicose veins: study protocol for a prospective, multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial","volume":"24","author":"Tang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Trials"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2014.01.003","article-title":"Role of compression stockings after endovenous laser therapy for primary varicosis","volume":"2","author":"Elderman","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e7586","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.e7586","article-title":"SPIRIT 2013 explanation and elaboration: guidance for protocols of clinical trials","volume":"346","author":"Chan","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2021.08.011","article-title":"A systematic review supporting the Society for Vascular Surgery, the American Venous Forum, and the American Vein and Lymphatic Society guidelines on the management of varicose veins","volume":"10","author":"Farah","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s00105-022-04977-8","article-title":"S2k guidelines: diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins","volume":"73","author":"Pannier","year":"2022","journal-title":"Hautarzt"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1739","DOI":"10.5114\/aoms\/163449","article-title":"Hybrid endovenous laser ablation reduces the recurrence of varicose veins below the knee compared with radiofrequency ablation: a real-world study","volume":"19","author":"Cong","year":"2023","journal-title":"Arch Med Sci"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"232","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2008.08.025","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the Dutch translated Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire","volume":"37","author":"Klem","year":"2009","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"184","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ejvs.2021.12.024","article-title":"Editor\u2019s choice - European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) 2022 clinical practice guidelines on the Management of Chronic Venous Disease of the lower limbs","volume":"63","author":"De Maeseneer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg"},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"783","article-title":"International psychometric validation of the Chronic Venous Disease quality of life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20)","volume-title":"Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg","author":"Launois","year":"2010"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-3959(01)00349-9","article-title":"Clinical importance of changes in chronic pain intensity measured on an 11-point numerical pain rating scale","volume":"94","author":"Farrar","year":"2001","journal-title":"Pain"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2014.11.004","article-title":"Recurrence of varicose veins after endovenous ablation of the great saphenous vein in randomized trials","volume":"4","author":"O\u2019Donnell","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"505843","DOI":"10.1155\/2014\/505843","article-title":"Factors associated with recurrence of varicose veins after thermal ablation: results of the recurrent veins after thermal ablation study","volume":"2014","author":"Bush","year":"2014","journal-title":"The Sci World J"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"485","DOI":"10.23736\/S0392-9590.24.05323-9","article-title":"Interventions for the treatment of recurrent varicose vein disease arising from the saphenofemoral junction or the great saphenous vein: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"43","author":"Bontinis","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int Angiol"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7148","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13237148","article-title":"Feasibility and safety of flush endovenous thermal ablation of the great saphenous vein with consecutive foam sclerotherapy of saphenofemoral junction tributaries: a single-center experience","volume":"13","author":"Jun","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101963","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2024.101963","article-title":"Longer term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial on the role of compression after radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins","volume":"13","author":"Hew","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvsv.2020.06.018","article-title":"The recommended goal in the United Kingdom\u2019s National Institute for Health and Care excellence clinical guideline 168 for immediate referral of patients with bleeding varicose veins is not being achieved","volume":"9","author":"Cragg","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1744286\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T05:26:42Z","timestamp":1773379602000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1744286\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]},"references-count":32,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1744286"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1744286","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]]},"article-number":"1744286"}}