Journal of Vascular Surgery. Venous and Lymphatic Disorders

OBJECTIVE: This prospective longitudinal pragmatic study describes at home treatment with a proprietary Advanced Pneumatic Compression Device (APCD) in patients with lower extremity Lymphedema (LED). METHODS: Following IRB approval, 4 participating VA centers enrolled LED patients from 2016 -2022. Primary outcome measures were Health-Related Quality of Life (HR-QoL) questionnaires; (LYMQOL-leg) and the generic SF-36v2™ obtained at baseline, 12, 24, and 52 weeks...

PURPOSE: The dermal rim sign (DRS) on nonenhanced MRI has been shown to predict dermal backflow (DBF) in patients with secondary upper limb lymphedema. However, whether DRS has the same effects on primary lower extremity lymphedema (PLEL) has not been clearly reported. Therefore, this study aimed to explore whether the DRS can be used to diagnose the DBF on lymphoscintigraphy in patients with PLEL. METHODS: Ninety-four patients who were diagnosed with PLEL were recruited for this retrospective study from January 2022 to December 2023...

OBJECTIVE: Supermicrosurgical lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) is increasingly being recognized as a first-line treatment for limb lymphedema because it is minimally invasive and highly effective. Lymphoscintigraphy and indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography are the two most commonly performed diagnostic imaging examinations to establish the indication and plan the procedure in patients affected by limb lymphedema. In a small group of patients, the information between these two imaging tools can be discordant, showing different anatomical drainage pathways or showing absence of drainage and dermal backflow in one examination, and valid drainage pathways in the other...

BACKGROUND: Substantial observational evidence suggests an association between neuropsychiatric conditions and Venous Thromboembolism (VTE). However, the causal relationship between these two conditions requires further investigation. Therefore, we employed a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach to assess bidirectional causal effects between four neuropsychiatric conditions and VTE, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and Pulmonary Embolism (PE). METHODS: Genetic variants associated with four neuropsychiatric conditions, including Schizophrenia (SCH), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar Disorder (BD), and Epilepsy, as well as VTE, DVT, and PE were selected...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Polidocanol endovenous microfoam (PEM) has been used to treat lower extremity venous reflux for almost a decade with specific advantage in below knee (BK) truncal veins where thermal ablation poses a risk for injury to adjacent nerves. Current literature in the BK segment often examines short-term outcomes with modest sample sizes. We aim to identify factors associated with recanalization and reintervention in this subset of patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of a prospectively maintained database of patients from a single institution who underwent PEM ablation for BK great saphenous vein (GSV) and small saphenous vein (SSV) reflux...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: Primary vascular leiomyosarcomas are incredibly rare and have poor prognoses. The purpose of this study was to analyze surgical outcomes of patients with primary inferior vena cava (IVC) leiomyosarcoma. METHODS: Retrospective review of IVC leiomyosarcoma resections performed at a single tertiary care hospital from 2014 to 2023. A total of 13 cases were analyzed, which included 10 females and 3 males. Presenting symptoms, tumor characteristics, operative management, post-operative complications, and survival rates were assessed for each patient...

BACKGROUND: Insurance companies have adopted variable and inconsistent approval criteria for chronic venous disease (CVD) treatment. While vein ablation (VA) is accepted as the standard of care for venous ulcers, the treatment criteria for patients with milder forms of CVD remain controversial. This study aims to identify factors associated with a lack of clinical improvement (LCI) in patients with less severe CVD without ulceration undergoing VA to improve patient selection for treatment...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to systemically review the literature on Anterior Saphenous Vein (ASV) reflux treatment and insurance impediments to treatment coverage. METHODS: A literature search was performed using a PRISMA framework. In addition, a cross-sectional analysis of insurance policies for ASV treatment was evaluated. RESULTS: Published evidence and treatment considerations in the literature for ASV treatment are discussed...

BACKGROUND: The term Anterior Accessory of the Great Saphenous Vein suggests this is a branch tributary vein despite this vessel's anatomic features of a truncal vein. A multisocietal group suggested to designate this the anterior saphenous vein (ASV). This study was aimed to evaluate its ultrasound anatomy in normal and varicose limbs. METHODS: The clinical anatomy of the ASV was evaluated by narrative review of the literature. Additionally, the course of the ASV was evaluated in 62 limbs with no evidence of venous disease and 62 limbs with varicosities...

BACKGROUND: The decision to treat a refluxing anterior saphenous vein (ASV) should be a clinical decision based on the assessment on the ASV's contribution to patient's signs and symptoms. Once the decision to treat has been made, there are anatomic, clinical, and technical considerations in treatment planning. METHODS: Clinical scenarios were discussed by a panel of experts and common anatomic, clinical, and technical considerations were identified. RESULTS: There are unique clinical considerations such as whether both the great saphenous vein (GSV) and ASV should be concomitantly treated, if a normal ASV should be treated when treating a refluxing GSV and when and how to treat the associated tributary varicose tributaries...

OBJECTIVE: Telangiectasias, characterized by dilated venules, are frequently observed in the lower extremities. Sclerotherapy stands out as the predominant treatment for these vascular lesions. The integration of laser therapy with a mild sclerosing agent, serving as an osmotic sclerosant, presents an enhanced cosmetic treatment approach, aiming to optimize outcomes while minimizing potential adverse effects. This study sought to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of cryo-laser and cryo-sclerotherapy (CLaCS) and compare it with injection sclerotherapy for the treatment of telangiectasia and reticular veins...

OBJECTIVE: The necessary training and certification of providers performing venous ablation has become a topic of debate in recent years. As venous interventions have shifted away from the hospital, the diversity of provider backgrounds has increased. We aimed to characterize superficial venous ablation practice patterns associated with different provider types. METHODS: We analyzed Medicare fee-for-service data from 2010 through 2018. Procedures were identified by their Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code and included radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, chemical adhesive ablation (i...

OBJECTIVE: Endothermal heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT) is a potential complication of radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Data on effective prophylaxis of EHIT is limited. In 2018, a high-volume single institution implemented strategies to decrease the incidence of EHIT, including a single peri-procedural prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to patients with a great saphenous vein (GSV) diameter ≥8mm or sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) diameter ≥10mm, and limiting treatment to one vein per procedure...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: Endovenous thermal ablation (EVTA) is a prevalent treatment option in patients with severe venous disease. However, the decision to intervene on patients with less severe disease (CEAP C2 & C3) is less clear and becomes further complicated in patients suffering from obesity, a pathology known to increase venous disease symptom severity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS-VQI) database to evaluate outcomes following EVTA in obese patients with CEAP C2 and C3 venous insufficiency...

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing intervention for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (IFDVT) with May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) typically require inpatient (IP) hospitalization for initial treatment with anticoagulation and management with pharmacomechanical thrombectomy. Direct anticoagulants (DOACs) and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) devices offer the opportunity for outpatient (OP) management. Our approach with these patients is described in this report. METHODS: Patients receiving intervention for acute IFDVT from January 2020 through October 2022 were retrospectively reviewed...

BACKGROUND: Despite an increased interest in visualising the lymphatic vessels (lymphatics) with Magnetic Resonance Lymphangiography (MRL), there remains little literature describing their appearance in non-lymphoedematous individuals. To determine lymphatic abnormalities, an understanding of how healthy lymphatics appear and behave needs to be established. In this study, MRL of individuals without a history of lymphatic disease was therefore performed. METHODS: A total of 25 individuals (15 female) underwent MRL of their lower limbs using a 3...

Catheter-directed intervention for acute iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) have been increasingly used over the past fifteen years to target severe symptomatology and prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) incidence or reduce its severity if it were to develop. Aside from successful thrombus removal, adjunctive stents are frequently required to treat an uncovered lesion or significant residual thrombus to ensure quality of life improvement besides retarding DVT recurrence and PTS. As the evidence is mounting, the need and role for stenting as well as the principles of an optimal technique in the acute DVT setting are now better understood...