Comparison of Infiltration Anesthesia and Femoral Nerve Block in Patients Who Underwent Lower Extremity Endovenous Radiofrequency Varicose Ablation

Background: Endovenous radiofrequency varicose vein closure is a minimally invasive technique for treating superficial veins, often requiring effective local anesthesia. This study aims to compare the effectiveness, complication rates, and pain associated with infiltration anesthesia versus femoral nerve block in patients undergoing the procedure. Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 60 ASA I and II patients aged 18 and older, who were assigned to receive either infiltration anesthesia or femoral nerve block prior to undergoing lower extremity endovenous radiofrequency ablation at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat Training and Research Hospital from January 2023 to December 2023. The primary outcome measures were pain levels assessed with the Visual Analog Scale during the procedure and within the first 24 hours postoperatively, along with the incidence of complications. Results: The study found that patients receiving femoral nerve block reported significantly lower pain scores at both 0 hours (p<0.001) and 24 hours (p=0.01) compared to those receiving infiltration anesthesia. Additionally, complication rates were lower in the femoral nerve block group, with no severe adverse events noted.