Deep venous insufficiency and the techniques used to repair the valve damage or valve incompetence is technically challenging when compared with the treatment of superficial, perforator, and iliofemoral deep venous occlusive disease, and therefore has been relegated to a “last…
Historical Background In contrast with the right common iliac vein, which ascends almost vertically to the inferior vena cava (IVC), the left common iliac vein takes a more transverse course beneath the right common iliac artery, which may compress it…
Historical Background Postthrombotic syndrome (PTS) remains an important health care problem in United States. A population-based study showed that the incidence of venous ulcers currently approaches 18 per 100,000 habitants per year. The same study identified that PTS is responsible…
Historical Background Endothermal ablation techniques used to treat superficial venous reflux, such as endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), use heat to induce endothelial injury. This results in a combination of thrombosis, fibrosis, subsequent vein contracture, and eventual…
Historical Background Demographics Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There are approximately 530,000 cases of symptomatic PE, and almost 300,000 deaths each year from acute venous thromboembolisms. The International Cooperative Pulmonary…
Historical Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant health problem with over 900,000 new episodes each year in the United States alone. VTE, which comprises both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is responsible for up to 300,000…
Historical Background Venous interruption for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE) was introduced by Homans in 1934. Although his initial description involved ligation of the femoral vein, surgical techniques soon evolved, focusing on interruption at the level of the inferior…
Historical Background and Epidemiology of Acute Venous Thromboembolic Disease The incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) ranges from 5 to 9 per 10,000 person-years in the general population, and the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE), defined as DVT and pulmonary…
Historical Background Recurrence rates of varicose veins of 20% are common, with rates as high as 70% at 10 years. Up to 25% of procedures for varicose veins are performed for recurrent disease, thus placing considerable demands on health care…
Historical Background Ambulatory phlebectomy (AP) is a minor surgical procedure designed to remove varicose vein clusters located close to the skin surface. Originally performed in ancient Rome, the technique was published by Robert Muller in 1966. In many office-based, venous…