Aims: Crossectomy (extended saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction ligation) and stripping of refluxing saphenous trunk represent the basis of the traditional surgical therapy of varicose veins. Endovascular techniques of saphenous ablation are the miniinvasive alternatives of the radical surgical treatment. The objective of this study is the comparison of the endovenous laser ablation with and without crossectomy through open groin access. Material and Methods: Retroprospective study compares the results of the group of patients treated with simple endovenous laser ablation (HVL – 329 limbs) and HVL completed with crossectomy (35 limbs). Both groups were comparable in terms of basic demographic and preoperative clinical data (p > 0.05). In both cohorts, subgroups with identical laser parameters were selected (p > 0.05). All procedures were performed according the same standard protocol, EVL patients received LMWH in the postoperative period. The results were evaluated by the comparison of CEAP clinical class pre and postoperatively, the percentage of recanalizations and also using the Kaplan-Meier life-table method. Results: No thrombosis, nor pulmonary embolism were diagnosed in the post-operative period. During the follow-up (98% treated limbs), venous occlusion was observed in 88% of them (91.05 % in the endovenous group and 65.71 % in the combined group). These differences are not statistically significant (p = 0.24). Same results were found using the Kaplan-Meier method (p = 0.086).Treatment significantly reduced CEAP clinical class in both groups but the results are better (C = 0.41 vs. 0.8) in the endovenous group (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Endovenous ablation of the refluxing saphenous vein represents good alternative of crossectomy and stripping. Combination of both procedures is not effective and, on the contrary, can cause short and long-term complications.

        Key words: crossectomy – stripping – endovenous laser – CEAP – saphenous ablation