The new 940-nanometer diode laser: an effective treatment for leg venulectasia.

Background: The 940-nm diode laser has been shown to be an effective treatment for leg veins.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the 940-nm diode laser on leg veins, depending on the size and morphologic aspect of the treated vessels.

Methods: A total of 60 patients (mean age: 44.4 years, Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV) underwent up to 3 treatment sessions at 4-week intervals using the 940-nm diode laser. Treatment parameters were: vessels < 0.4 mm in diameter, 0.5-mm spot, pulse duration of 10 milliseconds, fluence 306 J/cm(2); 0.4 to 0.8 mm in diameter, 1-mm spot, pulse duration of 30 milliseconds, fluence 306 J/cm(2); and 0.8 to 1.4 mm in diameter, 1.5-mm spot, pulse duration of 70 milliseconds, fluence 317 J/cm(2). Repetition rate was 2.5 Hz. Success rate was evaluated through double-blind observation.

Results: Only 13.33% of patients with telangiectases less than 0.4 mm in diameter had a percentage of vessel clearance superior to 75%. However, 88.24% of patients with vessels between 0.8 and 1.44 mm in diameter obtained more than 75% vessel clearance.

Conclusion: The treatment of leg veins by the 940-nm diode laser strongly depends on the size of the target vessel. Better results were obtained with 0.8- to 1.4-mm leg venulectases.