Data Sheet 1_Efficacy and safety of foam sclerotherapy for great saphenous vein reflux: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.docx

Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to pool the effects for each outcome with the longest follow-up time, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach was used to rate the certainty of evidence.</p>Results<p>Twenty-three trials (3,122 patients) were included.

Foam sclerotherapy may provide benefits over HL/S for symptom improvement (low certainty: RR, 1.09, 95% CI, 1.03–1.16) and several perioperative outcomes (low to very low certainty), including shorter surgery duration (WMD −35.28 min), reduced hospital stay (WMD −3.72 days), lower costs (WMD −4622.34€), and less blood loss (WMD −50.48 mL). However, foam sclerotherapy had a significantly lower occlusion rate (low certainty: RR, 0.65, 95% CI, 0.49–0.86), and no statistically significant difference was observed in recurrence rates (very low certainty: RR, 0.56, 95% CI, 0.25–1.23).</p>Conclusions<p>Foam sclerotherapy may yield better symptom improvement, safety, and perioperative outcomes than HL/S for GSV reflux despite a lower occlusion rate.