Clinical experience treating varicose veins in the aged.
Patients over 70 years of age suffering from varicose veins or complications of venous insufficiency formed 6.7 per cent of the population treated in our phlebologic clinic in 10 years. This group of patients is unable to perform intensive walking exercises and fails to use high-pressure elastic stockings; thus, most of the so-called "conservative armamentarium" is nonapplicable. This challenged us to find alternative or modified ways of treatment for this high-risk-for-surgery group. An isolated Trendelenburg procedure under local anesthesia, with sclerotherapy and/or transfixion sutures as an outpatient procedure, was used. In the case of stasis ulceration, patients were treated with sequential intermittent pneumatic compression including local hyperbaric oxygen and teaching the use of elastic support as an inhospital procedure. Both methods proved successful, thereby offering a more acceptable solution to one of the chronic problems of the older age group.
Gutman
H
H
Vascular Unit, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Zelikovski
A
A
Haddad
M
M
Reiss
R
R
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000628:therapy*