This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Belcaro, G. Articles by Belcaro, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Belcaro, G. Articles by Belcaro, G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

External Femoral Vein Valvuloplasty with Limited Anterior Plication (LAP): A 10-Year Randomized, Follow-up Study

Andrew N. Nicolaides, MS, MD

Andrea Ricci, MD

Giuseppe Laurora, MD

Bruno M. Errichi, MD

Dimitri Christopoulos, MD, PhD

Maria Rosaria Cesarone, MD

Maria Teresa De Sanctis, MD

Lucrezia Incandela, MD

G. Belcaro, MD, PhD

Via Vespucci 65 65100 Pescara Italy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects after 10 years of external valvuloplasty of the femoral vein (limited anterior plication or LAP). After informed consent patients with venous hypertension due to deep and superficial venous incompetence were randomized into two treatment groups. Both groups were treated with superficial vein surgery (ligation and section of the major incompetent superficial veins). Group 2 was treated with the same procedure and with LAP. External valvuloplasty of the superficial femoral vein was performed with plication of the anterior vein wall after limited dissec tion of the vein. Results were evaluated with color-duplex scanning and ambulatory venous pressure (AVP) measurements. Endpoints were AVP, refilling time (RT), presence/absence of reflux at the superficial femoral vein, the variation in the diameter of the vein, and quality of life score (QLS). No complications were observed. All femoral veins treated with LAP were competent after 10 years. Significantly lower AVP and longer RT were observed in the LAP group. Also the average diameter of the vein was smaller in the LAP group. Moreover, QLS was significantly better in the LAP group after 10 years. In conclusion, in selected subjects, with moderate deep venous incompetence, functional cusps, or incompetence mainly due to relative enlargement of the femoral vein, LAP may be an effective alternative to external valvuloplasty.

Angiology, Vol. 50, No. 7, 531-536 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/000331979905000702


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?