Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for chronic venous disease with ulcer. A prospective multiple outcome cohort study

Comparison of two ablation procedures combined with high ligation and foam sclerotherapy and compression therapy for patients with venous leg ulcers

AIM

To compare the ablation techniques' efficacy of endovenous microwave ablation (EMA) combined with high ligation (HL), foam sclerotherapy (FS) and compression therapy (CT) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) combined with HL-FS-CT in the treatment of VLUs.

METHOD

301 consecutive patients with VLUs from 2013 to 2022 in a 3200-bed hospital were intervened by EMA combined with HL-FS-CT and EVLA combined with HL-FS-CT were retrospectively compared.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-four patients underwent EMA+HL-FS-CT and 167 patients underwent EVLA+HL-FS-CT. The primary outcome of the ulcer healing time was 1.45(0.75-1.5) months and 1.86(0.5-2.5) months, respectively, in the two groups (HR for ulcer healing was 1.26, 95% CI [0.96-1.66], p = 0.097). Secondary outcomes included that no significant difference was found in ulcer recurrence and GSV recanalization and complications between the two groups, and the postoperative VCSS and AVVQ were significantly lower than the baseline values in the respective groups (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

EMA+HL-FS-CT and EVLA+HL-FS-CT are both effective at treating VLUs. Both of the two comprehensive treatments were beneficial to the healing of ulcers, but no evidence showed which one was superior in the ulcer healing time.

Association of great saphenous vein diameter and clinical severity score after treatment of severe chronic venous insufficiency with foam sclerotherapy

Objectives: to evaluate the association of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) diameter in the treatment of patients with severe chronic venous insufficiency (C6 CEAP classification) with ultrasound-guided polidocanol foam sclerotherapy (UGFS).  Methods: A prospective, descriptive and analytical study of 28 patients (30 limbs) that underwent UGFS. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups by GSV diameter (< 8 mm and ≥ 8 mm). Variables analyzed were ulcer healing, clinical intercurrences, clinical CEAP classification, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), diameter of the treated vein and presence of occlusion or recanalization by Doppler ultrasound. Patients were analyzed at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th months post-treatment. Results: The average age was 68.7 ± 10.5 years, 23 (82,1%) were women, and the average body mass index was 29.2 kg/m2. Although an improvement in VCSS score was observed during follow-up, no significant intergroup difference was noted. Seventeen (56%) limbs presented occlusion of the treated vein at the 1st month, 11 (36%) at the 3rd month, and 9 (30%) at the 6th month of follow-up. The ulcer healing rate was 56,6%. The average ulcer healing time was 90 days. Three (10%) patients presented with ulcer recurrence at the 6th month.  Survival analysis showed no significant difference in ulcer healing rate between subgroups after one year of follow-up (log-rank, p = 0,178). Conclusion: There was no difference between the subgroups of large and small VSM diameter in terms of symptom severity. However, significant reduction of VCSS and pain relief was observed after foam sclerotherapy.

Potential predictors of quality of life in patients with venous leg ulcers: A cross-sectional study in Taiwan

Internationally, the impact of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) on the quality of life is well recognised; however, in Taiwan, the focus is only on chronic wound management. This cross‐sectional correlational study conducted at the cardiovascular and plastic surgery clinics of a regional teaching hospital between August 2019 and June 2020 investigates venous clinical severity, pain, fatigue, depression, sleep quality, quality of life, and related factors among 167 patients with VLUs. The potential predictors of the quality of life in terms of activities were venous clinical severity (P < 0.001), pain (P = 0.004), and fatigue (P < 0.001) after adjusting for covariates. The potential predictors of the quality of life in terms of the psychological domain were marital status (single/divorced) (P = 0.016), marital status (widowed) (P = 0.027), venous clinical severity (P < 0.001), pain (P = 0.001), and fatigue (P = 0.002). The potential predictors of the quality of life with regard to symptoms were venous clinical severity (P < 0.001), pain (P < 0.001), fatigue (P = 0.001), and depression (P = 0.038). These potential predictors can serve as the basis of interventions for patients with VLUs, such as those related to nutrition or training in wound dressing.