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Dedicated to improving the treatment of venous disease

Volume 8, Number 11

www.venousdigest.com

November 2001

© 1995 John J. Bergan, MD, Inc. Page 1 of 1 Venous Digest, 2329 Barley Drive, Vista, CA 92083 USA (760) 599-9725

EARLY RESULTS OF OBJECTIVE

FOLLOWUP BY DUPLEX ULTRASOUND

SCANNING AFTER ECHOSCLERO-

THERAPY OR SURGERY FOR VARICOSE

VEINS

Myers KA, Wood SR, Lee V.

ANZ J Phleb 2000; 4:71-77

ABSTRACT AND COMMENTARY BY:

David Green, MD

Bethesda, Maryland

This is a preliminary report on the duplex ultrasound findings

of patients with greater or lesser saphenous disease treated by

echosclerotherapy or surgery during the preceding 18 months.

While some patients were followed from the onset of the study

(18 months), the authors do not specify the shortest followup

period or the average mean followup period. Surgery was

performed if the saphenous vein was greater than 10 mm in

diameter and if veins were extensive and bilateral. Otherwise,

echosclerotherapy was the recommended treatment.

Because the preoperative indications for each treatment were

different, the rates of success for these two techniques cannot,

and were not, compared. It was the intention of the authors to

monitor all study participants by duplex ultrasound scanning at 6

weeks, and then at 6, 12, and 18 months followed by annual

scans. In addition, those treated with echosclerotherapy were

scanned at one week to insure that saphenous vein occlusion was

achieved. If not occluded, they were re-treated.

During the 18-month period, 100 echosclerotherapy

procedures (78 long saphenous and 22 short saphenous) and 31

surgical procedures (24 long saphenous and 7 short saphenous)

were performed. Echosclerotherapy was performed using

"standard techniques" with either sodium tetradecyl sulfate or

aethoxysclerol. The goal was occlusion of the saphenous vein

near the saphenous junction. A compression bandage was

applied for a few days followed by class 2 compression hosiery.

The 24 limbs with long saphenous vein disease treated by

surgery had flush ligation and division at the saphenofemoral

junction, division of all tributaries of the long saphenous vein,

and adjacent common femoral vein and retrograde stripping by

inversion to the knee. Those with short saphenous reflux were

treated by flush ligation at the junction and excision of the

proximal vein to the distal limit of the operative field to below

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Early Results of Objective Followup by Duplex Ultrasound Scanning

After Echosclerotherapy or Surgery for Varicose Veins

Myers KA, Wood, SR, Lee V.

Abstracted by: David Green, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Reflux Elimination Without Any Ablation or Disconnection of the

Saphenous Vein: A Hemodynamic Model for Venous Surgery

Zamboni P, Cosno C, Marchetti F, et al.

Abstracted by: Attilio Cavezzim, San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy

In-Situ Hemodynamics of Perforating Veins in Chronic Venous

Insufficiency

Delis KT, Husmann M, Kalodiki E, et al.

Abstracted by: H. A. M. Neumann, Maastrict, The Netherlands

Proximal Long Saphenous Vein Valves in Primary Venous

Insufficiency: Histopathology and Pathophysiological Implications

Corcos L, DeAnna D, Mini M, et al.

Abstracted by: Georges Jantet, Paris, France

Short-Contact Topical Tretinoin Therapy to Stimulate Granulation

Tissue in Chronic Wounds

Paquette D, Badiavas E, Falanga V.

Abstracted by: Mitchel Goldman, La Jolla, California, USA

Vein Diagnosis and Treatment: A Comprehensive Approach

Book Review by Paul Thibault, Broadmeadow, NSW, Australia

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