Thromboembolic outcomes are decreased with the use of a standardized venous thromboembolism risk assessment and prophylaxis protocol for patients undergoing superficial venous procedures.

Objective: Patients with venous insufficiency can be treated with ablation or phlebectomy, or both. Patients undergoing superficial venous procedures have an elevated risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). At our institution, we initiated a standardized protocol in which patients with a Caprini score (2005 version) of ≥8 are treated with 1 week of prophylactic anticoagulation after the procedure.

Outcomes associated with ablation compared to combined ablation and transilluminated powered phlebectomy in the treatment of venous varicosities.

Background: Patients with painful varicose veins and venous insufficiency can be treated by eliminating axial reflux only or by eliminating axial reflux plus phlebectomy with transilluminated powered phlebectomy. This study was undertaken with the aim of determining and improving signs and symptoms of venous disease (measured by venous clinical severity score) and complications (by routine surveillance ultrasound and long-term post-operative follow up) for each treatment strategy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data from 979 limbs undergoing procedures for significant varicose veins and venous insufficiency from March 2008 until June 2014 performed at a single tertiary referral hospital.

Soluble P-selectin for the diagnosis of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: Although duplex ultrasound is the standard for the diagnosis of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LE-DVT), imaging is not always available. The use of D-dimer can exclude (high-sensitivity), but not rule in (low-specificity) LE-DVT. Previously, we demonstrated that soluble P-selectin (sP-sel) in combination with the Wells score, establishes the diagnosis of LE-DVT with a specificity of 96% and a positive predictive value of 100%.

Evaluation of soluble P-selectin as a marker for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis.

Objective: The combination of D-dimer and Wells score can exclude, but not confirm, the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Since thrombosis and inflammation are interrelated, we evaluated the combination of soluble P-selectin (sPsel) with other inflammatory biomarkers for the diagnosis of DVT.

Methods: Sixty-two positive and one hundred and sixteen patients with negative DVT, by duplex scan, were prospectively evaluated for sPsel, D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), microparticles (MPs; total, leukocyte, and platelet-derived and tissue factor positive microparticles), and clinical Wells score.