title: Safety, feasibility, and early efficacy of subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery: a preliminary report from the North American registry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The North American Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery (NASEPS) Registry was established to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of minimally invasive endoscopic Linton operations for treatment of chronic venous insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 151 patients who underwent attempt at 158 SEPS in 17 medical centers in the United States and Canada between June 1993 and February 1996.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SEPS was completed on 155 limbs of 148 patients, 81 male and 67 female (mean age, 56 years; range, 27 to 87 years). Three procedures were aborted. Seven patients had bilateral procedures (data from one limb were analyzed). One hundred four limbs (70%) had active ulcers, and 22 (15%) had healed ulcers. A single endoscopic port without insufflation was used in 66 procedures (45%) and laparoscopic instrumentation, with two or three ports, in 82 (55%), with CO2 insufflation in 78 (53%). A tourniquet was used on 112 patients (76%). Concomitant venous procedures were performed in 106 patients (72%; saphenous stripping in 71, high ligation in 17, varicosity avulsion in 85). No early deaths or thromboembolism occurred. Complications included wound infections (9), superficial thrombophlebitis (5), cellulitis (4), and saphenous neuralgia (10). Seven patients with wound infection had open ulcers; nine of 10 with neuralgia had concomitant procedures. A roll-on tourniquet caused skin necrosis in one patient. The clinical score improved from 9.4 to 2.9 after surgery (p < 0.0001). Mean follow-up was 5.4 months; 31 patients had > or = 6 months follow-up. Ulcers healed in 88% (75 of 85); recurrence or new ulcer was reported in 3% (4 of 120).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SEPS modified Linton operation appears safe, with no postoperative deaths or early thromboembolism. Wound infection after SEPS remains important. Early results indicate rapid ulcer healing. Prospective evaluation of long-term results is warranted.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gloviczki
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bergan
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Menawat
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Kistner
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lumsden
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: DePalma
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pigott
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schanzer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ascer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalman
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Calligaro
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cambria
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ilstrup
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Harmsen
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Canton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000209:etiology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*