Marc A. Passman

The care of patients with varicose veins and associated chronic venous diseases: Clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery and the American Venous Forum

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and the American Venous Forum (AVF) have developed clinical practice guidelines for the care of patients with varicose veins of the lower limbs and pelvis. The document also includes recommendations on the management of superficial and perforating vein incompetence in patients with associated, more advanced chronic venous diseases (CVDs), including edema, skin changes, or venous ulcers. Recommendations of the Venous Guideline Committee are based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system as strong (GRADE 1) if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks, burden, and costs. The suggestions are weak (GRADE 2) if the benefits are closely balanced with risks and burden. The level of available evidence to support the evaluation or treatment can be of high (A), medium (B), or low or very low (C) quality. The key recommendations of these guidelines are: We recommend that in patients with varicose veins or more severe CVD, a complete history and detailed physical examination are complemented by duplex ultrasound scanning of the deep and superficial veins (GRADE 1A). We recommend that the CEAP classification is used for patients with CVD (GRADE 1A) and that the revised Venous Clinical Severity Score is used to assess treatment outcome (GRADE 1B). We suggest compression therapy for patients with symptomatic varicose veins (GRADE 2C) but recommend against compression therapy as the primary treatment if the patient is a candidate for saphenous vein ablation (GRADE 1B). We recommend compression therapy as the primary treatment to aid healing of venous ulceration (GRADE 1B). To decrease the recurrence of venous ulcers, we recommend ablation of the incompetent superficial veins in addition to compression therapy (GRADE 1A). For treatment of the incompetent great saphenous vein (GSV), we recommend endovenous thermal ablation (radiofrequency or laser) rather than high ligation and inversion stripping of the saphenous vein to the level of the knee (GRADE 1B). We recommend phlebectomy or sclerotherapy to treat varicose tributaries (GRADE 1B) and suggest foam sclerotherapy as an option for the treatment of the incompetent saphenous vein (GRADE 2C). We recommend against selective treatment of perforating vein incompetence in patients with simple varicose veins (CEAP class C(2); GRADE 1B), but we suggest treatment of pathologic perforating veins (outward flow duration ≥500 ms, vein diameter ≥3.5 mm) located underneath healed or active ulcers (CEAP class C(5)-C(6); GRADE 2B). We suggest treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome and pelvic varices with coil embolization, plugs, or transcatheter sclerotherapy, used alone or together (GRADE 2B).

Management of venous leg ulcers: clinical practice guidelines of the Society for Vascular Surgery ® and the American Venous Forum.

Thomas F. O’Donnell Jr, MD, Marc A. Passman, MD, William A. Marston, MD, William J. Ennis, DO, Michael Dalsing, MD, Robert L. Kistner, MD, Fedor Lurie, MD, PhD, Peter K. Henke, MD, Monika L. Gloviczki, MD, PhD, Bo G. Eklof, MD, PhD, Julianne Stoughton, MD, Sesadri Raju, MD, Cynthia K. Shortell, MD, Joseph D. Raffetto, MD, Hugo Partsch, MD, Lori C. Pounds, MD, Mary E. Cummings, MD, David L. Gillespie, MD, Robert B. McLafferty, MD, Mohammad Hassan Murad, MD, Thomas W. Wakefield, MD, and Peter Gloviczki, MD

Healing rates and cost efficacy of outpatient compression treatment for leg ulcers associated with venous insufficiency

OBJECTIVE Although newer techniques to promote the healing of leg ulcers associated with chronic venous insufficiency are promising, improved healing rates and cost effectiveness are unproven. We prospectively followed a series of patients who underwent treatment with outpatient compression for venous stasis ulcers without adjuvant techniques to determine healing rates and costs of treatment. METHODS Two hundred fifty-two patients with clinical or duplex scan evidence of chronic venous insufficiency and active leg ulcers underwent treatment with ambulatory compression techniques. The patients were prospectively followed with wound measurements at 1-week to 2-week intervals, and the factors that were associated with delayed healing were determined. RESULTS Of all the ulcers, 57% were healed at 10 weeks of treatment and 75% were healed at 16 weeks. Ultimately, 96% of the ulcers healed, and only 1 major amputation was necessitated (0.4%). Initial ulcer size and moderate arterial insufficiency (ankle brachial index, 0.5 to 0.8; n = 34) were factors that were independently associated with delayed healing (P <.01). Patient age, ulcer duration before treatment, and morbid obesity did not significantly affect healing times. The cost of 10 weeks of outpatient treatment with compression techniques ranged from

Comparison of axillofemoral and aortofemoral bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease

1444 to

Synchronous colon primaries have the same prognosis as solitary colon cancers.

2711. CONCLUSION The treatment of venous stasis ulcers with compression techniques results in reliable, cost-effective healing in most patients. Current adjuvant techniques may prove to be useful but are likely to be cost effective only in a minority of cases, particularly in patients with large initial ulcer size or arterial insufficiency.

Late clinical and hemodynamic sequelae of isolated calf vein thrombosis

PURPOSE A comparison of aortofemoral bypass grafting (AOFBG) and axillofemoral bypass grafting (AXFBG) for occlusive disease performed by the same surgeons during a defined interval forms the basis for this report. METHODS Data regarding all patients who underwent AOFBG of AXFBG for lower-extremity ischemia caused by aortoiliac occlusive disease were prospectively entered into a computerized vascular registry. The decision to perform AOFBG rather than AXFBG was based on assessment of surgical risk and the surgeons preference. This report describes results for surgical morbidity, mortality, patency, limb salvage, and patient survival for procedures performed from January 1988 through December 1993. RESULTS We performed 108 AXFBGs and 139 AOFBGs. AXFBG patients were older (mean age, 68 years compared with 58 years for AOFBG, p<0.001), more often had heart disease (84% compared with 38%, p<0.001), more often underwent surgery for limb-salvage indications (80% compared with 42%, p<0.001). No significant differences were found in operative mortality (AXFBG, 3.4%; AOFBG, <1.0%, p=NS), but major postoperative complications occurred more frequently after AOFBG (AXFBG, 9.2%; AOFBG, 19.4%; p<0.05). Follow-up ranged from 1 to 83 months (mean, 27 months). Five-year life-table primary patency, limb salvage, and survival rates were 74%, 89%, and 45% for AXFBG and 80%, 79%, and 72% for AOFBG, respectively. Although the patient survival rate was statistically lower with AXFBG, primary patency and limb salvage rates did not differ when compared with AOFBG. CONCLUSION When reserved for high-risk patients with limited life expectancy, the patency and limb salvage results of AXFBG are equivalent to those of AOFBG.

Endoleak Following Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Implications for Duration of Screening

PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the prognosis of patients with synchronous colon primary tumors. METHODS: An 18-year, multi-institutional database of 4,878 colon cancer patients was reviewed, and patients with synchronous tumors were identified. Survival for each group was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank analysis. RESULTS: There were 160 patients (3.3 percent) with 339 synchronous tumors. Eight percent of these patients had more than two tumors at the time of diagnosis. TNM staging of all synchronous tumors was 12 percent Stage 0, 41 percent Stage I, 21 percent Stage II, 16 percent Stage III, and 7 percent Stage IV. Based on highest stage lesion, 1 percent of patients were at Stage 0, 28 percent Stage I, 33 percent Stage II, 25 percent Stage III, and 11 percent Stage IV. Disease-specific five-year survival by highest stage was 87 percent for Stage O or I, 69 percent for Stage II, 50 percent for Stage III, and 14 percent for Stage IV (all differences significant by log-rank test). These “highest stage” survivals for patients with synchronous tumors were not significantly different from survival of patients with same stage solitary tumors in our database or from survival of patients with solitary colon cancer in national tumor databases. CONCLUSION: For patients with synchronous colon cancers, survival is the same as for patients with solitary colon tumors on a stage-for-stage basis, when highest stage synchronous tumor is considered.

Call to action to prevent venous thromboembolism

PURPOSE Despite the frequent occurrence of isolated calf vein thrombosis (ICVT), little is known about the long-term clinical and hemodynamic sequelae of this condition. This study was conducted to determine late clinical symptoms and vascular laboratory abnormalities in patients after ICVT. METHODS Of 146 patients in whom ICVT was documented by color flow duplex scanning between 1989 and 1994, 37 were reexamined. Data included history, physical examination, venous recovery time (VRT), and duplex valve closure time (DVCT). A control group with no history of venous disease also underwent identical clinical and hemodynamic testing. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients (18 male and 19 female) with a median age of 56 years (range, 22 to 76 years) were examined at a mean follow-up of 3.4 years (range, 2.2 to 5.8 years) after the diagnosis of ICVT in 39 extremities. Seventeen subjects (34 extremities) were recruited as normal controls. Presenting symptoms at the time of ICVT included calf pain in 17 patients, calf swelling in seven, pain and swelling in seven, pulmonary symptoms in four, pulmonary symptoms and calf pain in one, and no symptoms in one. In the patients with ICVT, VRT was abnormal in 23% of extremities with ICVT and in 9% of extremities without ICVT. None of the extremities in the control group had an abnormal VRT (p < 0.05). DVCT was abnormal in one or more venous segments in 26% of extremities diagnosed with ICVT and in 6% of control extremities (p < 0.05). Follow-up clinical examination in patients with ICVT revealed 13 (35%) with reticular veins, 10 (27%) with varicose veins, two (5.4%) with edema, one (2.7%) with pigmentation and ulcer (contralateral extremity to ICVT with a previous history of proximal deep venous thrombosis), 13 (35%) with mild discomfort, and one (2.7%) with severe pain. All symptoms attributable to ICVT were mild in nature except in one patient who had severe pain and no physical or hemodynamic vascular laboratory abnormalities at follow-up. CONCLUSION At an average of 3.4 years after ICVT, approximately one third of patients showed evidence of mild to moderate venous valvular insufficiency, but mostly in segments not involved with ICVT, and few had significant clinical symptoms attributable to venous disease.

Validation of Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) with other venous severity assessment tools from the American Venous Forum, National Venous Screening Program

Objective:Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EAR) requires long-term surveillance for endoleak or increase in aneurysm diameter. We analyzed the natural history of and risk factors for endoleak development. Summary Background Data:Endoleak is a common complication of EAR that can lead to aneurysm enlargement and even rupture. Following EAR, imaging studies are used to identify leaks since patients with endoleak may require additional endovascular interventions or conversion to open repair. No criteria currently exist for cessation or reduction in frequency of screening imaging studies. Methods:Data on 220 patients undergoing EAR were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression were used with the end point being new endoleak development. Potential risk factors included preoperative aneurysm diameter, number of negative surveillance studies, and postoperative increase in diameter. Results:A total of 52 patients (24%) who underwent EAR had endoleak detected during postoperative follow-up, which averaged 19 months (range, 0.4–101 months). One, 6-, 12-, and 24- month endoleak-free survival was 90%, 80%, 77%, and 73%, respectively. Three leaks occurred after year 2, at postoperative months 24, 48, and 85. Increasing number of negative screening studies was negatively associated with risk for endoleak development (B = −3.122, P < 0.001), while increase in aneurysm diameter was positively associated with risk for endoleak (B = 0.072, P = 0.04). Conclusion:Risk for endoleak declines as the number of negative postoperative scans increases, but new endoleaks are identified as late as 7 years following EAR. Reduction in screening frequency cannot be uniformly recommended at this time. Patients with documented aneurysm expansion should be monitored carefully and endoleak should be suspected.

Early outcomes of thoracic endovascular stent-graft repair for acute complicated type B dissection using the Gore TAG endoprosthesis.

Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, together called venous thromboembolism, remain a serious national health problem. Estimates suggest that over 900,000 cases occur in the United States per year, with 300,000 deaths per year. Because of the significant and serious nature of this problem, a workshop was held in May of 2006, which resulted in the Acting U.S. Public Health Service Surgeon Generals Call to Action to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism. On September 15, 2008, Acting Surgeon General, Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, MD, MPH, and Elizabeth Nabel, MD, Director National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, announced the Call to Action. The Call to Action highlights public awareness about the risk factors, triggering events, and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and encourages the development of evidence based practices for screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. It is designed to encourage new scientific investigation in an effort to obtain needed evidence to fill in the gaps of knowledge about venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This knowledge should be quickly and easily disseminated to the public and put into practice by health professionals. The Surgeon Generals Call to Action represents one of the most important advances in the field of venous thromboembolism and sets the stage for multidisciplinary efforts to combat this serious national health problem.