Treatment of venous ulcer of the lower limb by endovenous laser ablation: one year longitudinal study

Abstract

BACKGROUND –Venous ulcer is the most advanced stage of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Active venous ulcers affect 0.3% of the adult population in developed countries. Superficial venous reflux (varicose veins) is usually present in patients with venous leg ulcers. Conservative therapy of venous ulcers and the prevention of new ulcers includes control of edema and venous hypertension by adequate compression therapy, wound cleaning or surgical debridement and systemic antibiotic therapy. Studies with compression bandaging have demonstrated successful healing of venous leg ulcers, but recurrence rates have been high. Traditionally, surgery for venous disease involves removing the veins from the leg. The blood is then diverted through the remaining healthy veins. This reduces the pressure in the veins and helps prevent ulcers that have healed from coming backbut needs hospital admission and anesthesia. EVLA treatment that may be particularly appropriate for the elderly population with venous ulcers of lower limb . In our study we included 30 patients with non healing venous ulcer who underwent EVLA as treatment option. We assessed the healing rate of venous ulcer post procedure and associated complications.