Endovenous laser ablation for persistent and recurrent venous ulcers after varicose vein surgery.
A 75-year-old woman presented with painful recurrent venous ulcers (VU) continuously for the past 33 months on a background of frequent intermittent problems for the last 16 years. She had previously been treated with varicose vein surgery and trials of compression bandaging. Subsequently, she underwent endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) targeting the distal incompetent remnant of her great and small saphenous veins. This resulted in complete healing of her ulcers within four weeks. The dramatic response demonstrated in this case suggests that EVLA may represent an effective intervention in the management of postsurgery refractory VU.
Kambal
A A
AA
Department of Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK.
De'Ath
H D
HD
Albon
H
H
Watson
A
A
Shandall
A
A
Greenstein
D
D
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D012086:Reoperation; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures