title: Femoral vein valve repair with angioscopy-assisted anterior valve sinus plication. Early results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficiency of angioscopy-assisted anterior valve sinus plication for primary deep venous insufficiency was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  retrospective, clinical study with short follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  institutional practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 limbs in 12 patients had class 4 or higher disease (SVS/ISCVS classification). Descending venography showed class 3 or 4 reflux in all patients. Venous refilling time (VRT) was abnormal (<15 sec) in all of the nine limbs in which photoplethysmography was conducted. The limbs were treated with angioscopy-assisted anterior valve sinus plication of the superficial femoral vein. Postoperative descending venography was performed between the first and third day after operation. Clinical evaluation and VRT measurement were repeated when the patients were discharged and checked at the outpatient office.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 22 weeks with a range of 1 to 70 weeks. At postoperative descending venography, the reflux of the superficial femoral vein was significantly improved. At final follow-up, all patients reported greater or lesser relief of subjective symptoms. In four limbs with class 6 disease, ulcers healed and did not recur. In one limb with class 5 disease, ulcers did not recur. In the other 10 limbs with class 4 disease, a distinct clinical improvement occurred with resolution of skin changes. VRT was normal in 11 of the 12 limbs examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary experience demonstrates that angioscopy-assisted anterior valve sinus plication gives early good clinical and hemodynamic improvement in patients with primary deep venous insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, K14, N5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060, Japan. tnishibe@med.hokudai.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishibe
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017546:Angioscopy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*