Blood thinners after varicose vein surgery: safe or risky? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT07208695
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at 40 people who take blood thinners (like aspirin or warfarin) and undergo radiofrequency ablation for varicose veins. Researchers will compare bleeding risks and vein closure rates over 6 months between those on blood thinners and those not. The goal is to see if continuing these medications after the procedure is safe.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- oral antiplatelet drugs (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel) or oral anticoagulant drugs (e.g., warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors understand whether it is safe to continue blood thinners after varicose vein treatment, potentially guiding safer medication management.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small observational study with only 40 participants, not a randomized trial. It cannot prove cause and effect, and results may not apply to all patients.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Oct 2025
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The study population includes adults aged ≥18 years with confirmed primary lower extremity varicose veins (CEAP classification C2-C6), validated by clinical examination and duplex ultrasound, who have undergone endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the great saphenous vein as the primary treatment. Participants are stratified into three groups based on postoperative antithrombotic medication use per routine clinical practice: those taking standard-dose oral antiplatelet drugs, those using standard oral anticoagulants, and a control group without antithrombotic agents. Excluded individuals are patients with secondary varicose veins (e.g., due to deep vein thrombosis or venous malformations), coagulation disorders, postoperative non-oral antithrombotic use, major bleeding within 3 months before RFA, severe hepatic/renal insufficiency, life-threatening systemic diseases, or those unable to complete follow-up or provide informed consent.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18 years or older, with a confirmed diagnosis of primary lower extremity varicose veins (CEAP classification C2-C6) based on clinical examination and duplex ultrasound. * Underwent endovenous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the great saphenous vein as the primary intervention. * Postoperatively, either: (a) continuously uses standard-dose oral antiplatelet drugs (e.g., aspirin 100mg/day, clopidogrel 75mg/day) or oral anticoagulant drugs (e.g., warfarin with INR maintained at 2.0-3.0, direct oral anticoagulants at standard therapeutic doses) as per clinical routine, or (b) does not use any antithrombotic drugs. * Able to understand and comply with the follow-up schedule (including 30-day bleeding assessment and 6-month duplex ultrasound examination) and provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of secondary varicose veins caused by deep vein thrombosis, venous malformation, or other vascular disorders. * History of coagulation disorders (e.g., hemophilia, thrombocytopenia with platelet count \<100×10⁹/L) or use of other antithrombotic agents (e.g., low-molecular-weight heparin, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors) postoperatively. * Major bleeding events (e.g., gastrointestinal bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage) within 3 months prior to RFA. * Severe hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh class C), renal insufficiency (eGFR \<30 mL/min/1.73m²), or other life-threatening systemic diseases. * Unable to complete follow-up due to mental disorders, mobility limitations, or other reasons, or refusal to sign the informed consent form.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
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