title: Interventional treatment of postthrombotic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) is the development of symptoms and signs of chronic venous insufficiency following deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and has a significant negative effect on the quality of life. The current understanding is that the clinical manifestation of PTS is related more to venous obstruction than it is to venous reflux. The use of interventional techniques for the treatment of venous obstruction and/or venous occlusion has rapidly increased in recent years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article summarizes the current concept of endovenous and hybrid interventions and presents the optimized treatment of choice in patients with chronic symptomatic venous obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic literature search in the Medline database to identify relevant studies on the treatment of patients with PTS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A meta-analysis of the relevant studies showed that this minimally invasive procedure is an effective treatment option with low morbidity and no mortality. Use of the newly developed dedicated venous stents showed promising results with good mid-term patency rates and a significant decrease in related symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventional therapy for the treatment of symptomatic chronic venous obstruction has become the method of choice in recent years. More studies are needed to evaluate the long-term success rate of dedicated venous stents.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jalaie
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schleimer
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Barbati
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gombert
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grommes
authors.affiliation: European Vascular Center Aachen-Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A F
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Wolf
authors.affiliation: European Vascular Center Aachen-Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Graaf
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Europäisches Gefäßzentrum Aachen-Maastricht, Pauwelstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany ; European Vascular Center Aachen-Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H A
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wittens
keywords: Chronic venous obstruction; Endophlebectomy; Postthrombotic syndrome; Venous recanalization; Venous stents