COmpressioN following endovenous TreatmenT of Incompetent varicose veins by sclerotherapy (CONFETTI).

Objective: The evidence for post-foam sclerotherapy compression stockings for varicose veins is limited. Thus, we examined the effects of post-procedural compression stockings on varicose vein patients undergoing foam sclerotherapy.

Methods: The CONFETTI study was a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial.

Left common iliac vein diameter in patients referred for lower limb venous duplex ultrasound.

Introduction: Evidence regarding ultrasound assessment of left common iliac vein diameter (LCIV) is limited. Extensive work is currently being undertaken worldwide on non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions to identify patients who may benefit from intervention to alleviate symptoms of chronic venous obstruction. Interventions include long-term stent implantation to improve vein diameter stenosis.

Pain Outcomes Following Mechanochemical Ablation vs Cyanoacrylate Adhesive for the Treatment of Primary Truncal Saphenous Vein Incompetence: The MOCCA Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Endovenous thermal ablations (ETAs) are recommended as first-line treatment for truncal vein reflux, have a short recovery time, and are cost-effective. However, ETAs are associated with discomfort during tumescent anesthesia infiltration. To minimize discomfort, nonthermal, nontumescent ablation techniques had emerged in the form of mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) and cyanoacrylate adhesive injection (CAE).

Cost-effectiveness analysis of current varicose veins treatments.

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of technologies for treatment of varicose veins over 5 years-conservative care, surgery (high ligation and stripping), ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS), endovenous laser ablation (EVLA), and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), mechanochemical ablation (MOCA), and cyanoacrylate glue occlusion (CAE).

Methods: A systematic review was updated and used to construct a Markov decision model. Outcomes were reintervention on the truncal vein, retreatment of residual varicosities and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and costs over 5 years.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Compression After Endovenous Thermal Ablation of Varicose Veins (COMETA Trial).

Background: The 21st century has witnessed a rise in the use of endovenous thermal ablation. Being highly clinically and cost-effective and improving the quality of life of patients, they are now considered to be the "gold-standard" treatment for varicose veins. Post-intervention management, especially in terms of postoperative compression, however, remains unclear.

Mechanochemical ablation versus cyanoacrylate adhesive for the treatment of varicose veins: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Thermal ablation techniques have become the first-line treatment of truncal veins in the management of chronic venous disease (CVD). Despite excellent outcomes, these methods are often associated with pain; generally due to their use of heat and the necessity of fluid infiltration around the vein. More recently, novel non-thermal techniques, such as mechanochemical ablation (MOCA) and cyanoacrylate adhesive (CAE) have been developed to overcome these unwelcome effects.

Endovenous Management of Varicose Veins.

Varicose veins are a very common condition and have been the subject of a recent proliferation of treatment modalities. The advent of the endovenous treatment era has led to a confusing array of different techniques that can be daunting when making the transition from traditional surgery. All modalities offer excellent results in the right situation, and each has its own treatment profile.

The advent of non-thermal, non-tumescent techniques for treatment of varicose veins.

Varicose veins are common and their management has undergone a number of changes over the years. Surgery has been the traditional treatment option, but towards the 21st century, new endovenous thermal ablation techniques, namely, radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ablation, were introduced which have revolutionised the way varicose veins are treated. These minimally invasive techniques are associated with earlier return to normal activity and less pain, as well as enabling procedures to be carried out as day cases.

Inferior vena cava filters for prevention of venous thromboembolism in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a systematic review.

Objective: The use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in bariatric surgery is a contentious issue. We aim to review the evidence for the use of IVC filters in bariatric surgical patients, describe trends in practice, and discuss challenges in developing evidence-based guidelines.

Background: The incidence of VTE in modern bariatric procedures with traditional methods of thromboprophylaxis, such as sequential calf compression devices and perioperative low molecular weight heparin, is approximately 2%.

Open repair versus fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair of juxtarenal aneurysms.

Background: Open repair is the gold standard management for juxtarenal aneurysms. Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR) is indicated for high-risk patients. The long-term outcomes of FEVAR are largely unknown, and there is no Level I comparative evidence.

Ambulatory varicosity avulsion later or synchronized (AVULS): a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: A randomized clinical trial assessing the difference in quality of life and clinical outcomes between delayed and simultaneous phlebectomies in the context of endovenous truncal vein ablation.

Background: Endovenous ablation has replaced open surgery as the treatment of choice for truncal varicose veins. Timing of varicosity treatment is controversial with delayed and simultaneous pathways having studies advocating their benefits.

Improving the management of varicose veins.

Up to 30% of the UK population are affected by varicose veins. They are a manifestation of increased venous pressure in the lower limb caused by impaired venous return. Primary varicosities result from poor drainage from the superficial to the deep venous system.

The disparate management of superficial venous thrombosis in primary and secondary care.

Objectives: Superficial venous thrombosis is common and traditionally considered a benign condition requiring only symptomatic treatment. Recent evidence, however, advocates more aggressive management. Extensive guidance is available but actual practice is unknown.

Retrograde mechanochemical ablation of the small saphenous vein for the treatment of a venous ulcer.

We present the first case of retrograde ablation of the small saphenous vein to treat active venous ulceration. A 73-year-old gentleman with complicated varicose veins of the left leg and a non-healing venous ulcer despite previous successful endovenous treatment to his left great saphenous vein underwent mechanochemical ablation of his small saphenous vein with the ClariVein® system, under local anaesthetic, using a retrograde cannulation technique. Post-operatively the patient had improved symptomatically and the ulcer size had reduced.

Socio-economic impact of endovenous thermal ablation techniques.

Varicose veins are common and cause extensive morbidity; however, the value of treatment is under-appreciated. Many procedures allow the treatment of varicose veins with minimal cost and extensive literature supporting differing minimally invasive approaches. In this article, we investigate the current literature regarding treatment options, clinical outcome and the cost-benefit economics associated with varicose vein treatment.

Cyanoacrylate glue for the treatment of great saphenous vein incompetence in the anticoagulated patient.

The Sapheon Venaseal Closure System (Sapheon Inc, Santa Rosa, Calif), using cyanoacrylate glue, has provided a new modality of treatment, with patients treated without both tumescent anesthesia and postoperative compression. We present the first case of great saphenous vein occlusion performed using glue while the patient was fully anticoagulated with warfarin. This was tolerated well, and the treated vein showed complete early occlusion at 8 weeks; however at 6 months, extensive recanalization was demonstrated on duplex imaging.

Diagnosis and surgical management of free-floating thrombus within the carotid artery.

Objective: Free-floating thrombus (FFT) of the carotid artery is a rare condition of currently unknown etiology. Less than 150 cases have been described in the published world literature to date.

Design And Setting: We present 6 consecutive cases of carotid FFT, identified prospectively from 5000 carotid duplex scans over a 34-month period in a single tertiary center for vascular surgery.