Update on venous procedures performed in the office setting.

Treatment for chronic venous disease has evolved from hospital-based surgical procedures to minimally invasive office-based office procedures that provide shorter recovery periods, less postprocedural discomfort, and quicker return to normal activities. A specialty venous clinic, separate from the arterial practice, with a specialized professional health care team, provides a comfortable setting in which patients can have access to the most up-to-date treatment options. Sclerotherapy treatment for telangectasias, reticular veins, tributary varicosities, insufficient truncal veins, and incompetent perforating veins is a common therapy that is well suited for the office setting.

Diagnosis and management of venous ulcers.

Venous ulceration of the lower extremities is a common and often disabling condition. Venous ulcers are the result of a chronic inflammatory condition caused by persistent venous hypertension. Therapy is directed at counteracting the chronic inflammation in the tissues and at decreasing ambulatory venous hypertension in the area.

Current management of varicose veins.

Problematic varicose veins are estimated to occur in up to 30 million Americans and may be symptomatic and/or unsightly. The majority of symptomatic varicose veins occur in the lower extremities and can result in significant circulatory disease. This problem is more common in women as a result of pregnancy and child bearing.

Endovascular aortic repair or minimal incision aortic surgery: Which procedure to choose for treatment of high-risk aneurysms?

Background: This study evaluates use of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and minimal incision aortic surgery (MIAS) for treatment of high-risk patients with infrarenal aneurysms.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated with EVAR or MIAS between 2000 and 2002 was performed. High-risk criteria included age older than 80 years, creatinine level greater than 3.

Is coil embolization of hypogastric artery necessary during endovascular treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of stent graft coverage of hypogastric artery in the management of aortoiliac aneurysms. Between January 2000 and December 2002, 98 patients underwent endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms (EVAR). Of these, 24 (24.

Minimal incision aortic surgery (MIAS).

This study evaluates the clinical and economic impact of using less extensive minimal invasive aortic surgery (MIAS) for elective treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD) in two independent surgical departments. Surgeons from two institutions conducted a prospective consecutive, nonrandomized analysis of MIAS electively performed in 80 patients. MIAS outcomes were compared with 80 consecutive elective standard open aortic procedures (40 from each institution), which were performed during the same time period.