Long-Term Clinical Results following Correction of Incompetent Superficial and Perforating Veins in Patients with Deep Venous Incompetence and Ulcers

Objectives: To assess the presence of venous ulcers following stripping of the saphenous vein and ligation of perforating veins in patients with deep venous incompetence. Design: Retrospective follow-up after a median of 41 months following surgery. Patients: Thirty operated limbs in 25 patients with venous ulcers, originally entering a prospective study of physiological changes following surgery for venous insufficiency. Interventions: An interview regarding absence of ulcers, expressed as a percentage of the follow-up time after surgery – the ‘ulcer-free period’. Correlation with ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) and foot volumetric measures following surgery. Main outcome measures: The presence or absence of venous ulcers. Results: The ulcer-free period for the whole group was 76%. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the ulcer-free period in limbs with an AVP below 60 mmHg (89%) compared with limbs with a higher AVP (70%). Conclusion: Failure to normalize AVP with surgery results in persistent high venous pressure and an increased risk of venous ulceration recurrences.