Venous Valve Reconstruction in Patients with Secondary Chronic Venous Insufficiency

ObjectivesTo evaluate the durability of venous valve reconstruction (VVR) and its benefits in terms of symptom improvement, ulcer healing and symptom/ulcer recurrence among patients with secondary chronic venous insufficiency (SCVI) in whom superficial venous surgery and compression treatment had failed.MethodsDuring a ten year period (1993-2004) 1800 patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) were evaluated by colour duplex ultrasound (CDU) and ambulatory venous pressure measurement (AVP). Approximately two thirds of patients had SCVI. Initial treatment consisted of compression therapy for a 6 month period. In addition, superficial vein and perforator surgery was performed in those presenting with reflux in these venous systems. 121 patients who did not improve with this treatment were investigated by ascending venography, descending video venography, air plethysmography and measurement of post-ischaemic venous pressure gradient. Thirty two cases having venous reflux without obstruction were selected for VVR.ResultsThe ulcer healing rate within three months was 68% (13/19 patients). VVR resulted in valvular competence and a clinical success rate of 47% and 40% after 3 and 7 years respectively. In 8/13 (54%) of patients with a healed leg ulcer, a median post-operative AVP reduction of 33 mm Hg (range 20-38) was recorded. The durability of clinical success was numerically longer in patients with haemodynamic improvement (n = 10) median 24 months (12-108), when compared with that in those without haemodynamic improvement (n = 22) median 18 months (6-108). Popliteal vein reconstruction was part of the VVR procedure in all patients with haemodynamic improvement (post-op. AVP reduction ≥20 mm Hg). VVR at the popliteal level alone or combined with inguinal reconstruction seemed to be the one significant factor associated with haemodynamic improvement (P = 0.014, Chi squared).ConclusionVVR may lead to ulcer healing, but when performed at the popliteal level, haemodynamic improvement can be obtained along with a longer recurrence-free period (durability). VVR should be considered in the treatment of patients with SCVI who do not respond to superficial venous surgery and compression treatment.