[The endovenous laser therapy of varicose veins--substantial innovation or expensive playing?].

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the endovenous use of laser for treatment of varicose veins. In particular the influence of laser energy on the perivenous temperature, the postoperative clinical and duplex ultrasound course was taken into account.

Method: The patients were divided into two groups.

[The significance of the pneumatic tourniquet technique for an innovative varicose vein surgery--methods, advantages, risks, danger].

Aim: The systemic effects of the pneumatic tourniquet technique in varicose vein surgery were studied in order to evaluate possible risks and threats.

Methods: 155 patients were included to look at intraoperative changes of cardiovascular parameters and capillary blood and respiratory gases.

Results: Whereas the pulse rate showed only an insignificant rise of 3/min, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly by 12 and 6 mm Hg resp.

[Financing endoluminal stent prostheses in abdominal aortic aneurysms].

Clinical testing of endovascular therapy of aortic aneurysm is at present going on in various hospitals. Because of their restricted budgets, breaking even is not possible for hospitals realising this method of treatment. Amongst technical difficulties, legal questions and the lack of long-term studies, the common use of this expensive method is complicated by unsolved financing.

[Peripheral venous pressure in acute and chronic femoral-pelvic vein occlusion--an experimental study].

The behaviour of the peripheral venous pressure was checked after starvation of the venous main vessel of the pelvic limb in 34 mongrel dogs in long-term course about 40 weeks. The influence of recanalisation processes on the pressure development was excluded by the ligature model. The pressure measurements took place continuously statically and dynamically in horizontal and in oblique posture.

[Surgery of leg and pelvic venous thrombosis].

33 patients suffering from crural-pelvic venous thrombosis and having been treated surgically were now followed-up. The late results obtained were satisfactory.

[Leg oedema after surgery of varicose veins (author's transl)].

Following surgery of varicose veins by stripping we observed leg oedema due to iatrogenic damage of lymphatic vessels. In cases of preexisting swelling of the leg in combination with varicose veins the authors recommend preoperative lymphography. After vein stripping compression therapy for 3 to 6 weeks should be obligatory.