title: External femoral vein valvuloplasty with limited anterior plication (LAP): a 10-year randomized, follow-up study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects after 10 years of external valvuloplasty of the femoral vein (limited anterior plication or LAP). After informed consent patients with venous hypertension due to deep and superficial venous incompetence were randomized into two treatment groups. Both groups were treated with superficial vein surgery (ligation and section of the major incompetent superficial veins). Group 2 was treated with the same procedure and with LAP. External valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein was performed with plication of the anterior vein wall after limited dissection of the vein. Results were evaluated with color-duplex scanning and ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) measurements. Endpoints were AVP, refilling time (RT), presence/absence of reflux at the superficial femoral vein, the variation in the diameter of the vein, and quality of life score (QLS). No complications were observed. All femoral veins treated with LAP were competent after 10 years. Significantly lower AVP and longer RT were observed in the LAP group. Also the average diameter of the vein was smaller in the LAP group. Moreover, QLS was significantly better in the LAP group after 10 years. In conclusion, in selected subjects, with moderate deep venous incompetence, functional cusps, or incompetence mainly due to relative enlargement of the femoral vein, LAP may be an effective alternative to external valvuloplasty.
authors.affiliation: Irvine Laboratory, St. Mary's Hospital at Imperial College, London, UK. cardres@pe.abol.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurora
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Errichi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christopoulos
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Incandela
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory; D011788:Quality of Life; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology