title: Our early experience with iliofemoral vein stenting in patients with post-thrombotic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous balloon dilation and stent therapy have been proposed as effective treatments for chronic iliofemoral thrombosis. In this study, we report our experience and describe the one-year outcome and efficacy of balloon angioplasty and stenting for the treatment of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in iliofemoral vein segments.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2011 to June 2012, 52 consecutive patients with chronic PTS (59 limbs; 75% women; median age 58 years; range: 23-76 years) referred to our unit for interventional assessment were included in the study. Treatment effects were assessed using Villalta scale, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ)-20 for PTS, CEAP (clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements) grading and measurement of leg circumference, before and after intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stenting was successfully accomplished in all patients. Coagulation abnormality was identified in 21 subjects (40.3%). CEAP grades were as follows: C3 in 19 patients, C4 in 24 patients, C5 in one patient and C6 in eight patients. According to Villalta scores, three patients were mild, seven patients were moderate and 42 patients were severe PTS. VCSS, Villalta scale and CIVIQ-20 showed a significant decrease in the severity of PTS signs and symptoms (P < 0.001). The calf and middle thigh circumferences decreased significantly on both sides (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of iliac venous obstruction with balloon angioplasty and stenting appears to be a minimally invasive and safe therapeutic approach in patients with PTS offering quick symptomatic relief, good patency and minimal morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery isamilsarici@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Sarici
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yanar
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Agcaoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poyanli
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurtoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054070:Postthrombotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Endovascular treatment; post-thrombotic syndrome; quality-of-life assessment