title: Combined treatment with compression therapy and ablation of incompetent superficial and perforating veins reduces ulcer recurrence in patients with CEAP 5 venous disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with healed venous ulcers often experience recurrence of ulceration, despite the use of long-term compression therapy. This study examines the effect of closing incompetent superficial and/or perforating veins on ulcer recurrence rates in patients with CEAP 5 who have progressive lipodermatosclerosis and impending ulceration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endovenous ablation was performed on patients with CEAP 5 disease and incompetent superficial and/or perforator veins and increasing lipodermatosclerosis and/or progressive malleolar pain. A minimum of 3 months of compressive therapy was attempted before endovenous ablation of incompetent veins. Demographic data, risk factors, CEAP classification, procedural details, and postoperative status were all recorded. Patients underwent duplex ultrasound scans before ablation to assess for deep, superficial, and perforator venous incompetence as well as postoperatively to confirm successful ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight endovenous ablation procedures (superficial = 19; perforator = 9) were performed on 20 patients (limbs = 21). The mean patient age was 73 years old (range, 45-93 years) and the mean body mass index was 29.5 (18.9-58.4). Ninety-five percent of patients previously wore compression stockings (20-30 mm Hg = 9; 30-40 mm Hg = 10; none = 1) for a mean time of 23.3 months (range, 3-52 months) since the prior ulcer healed. Indications for venous ablation were increasing malleolar pain (55%) and/or lipodermatosclerosis (70%). Technical success rates for the ablation procedures were 100% for superficial veins and 89% for perforators (96.4% overall). All patients underwent closure of at least one incompetent vein. Postoperatively, 95% of patients were compliant with wearing compression stockings (20-30 mm Hg = 8; 30-40 mm Hg = 11; none = 1). Ulcer recurrence rates were 0% at 6 months and 4.8% at 12 and 18 months. These data compare with prior studies showing an ulcer recurrence rate up to 67% at 12 months with compression alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with CEAP 5 healed venous ulcers that undergo endovenous ablation of incompetent superficial and perforating veins and maintain compression have reduced ulcer recurrence rates compared with historical controls that are treated with compression alone.
authors: University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Harlander-Locke
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Lawrence
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Jimenez
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Rigberg
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: DeRubertis
authors: Hugh
authors: H
authors: Gelabert
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015141:Los Angeles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011312:Pressure; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing