Treatment pattern of consecutive patients with chronic venous disease.

Background: No clear data exist on the treatment patterns in patients with chronic venous disease. This study was designed to determine how such patients were treated in our center.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting for a vein consultation at our center were collected during a 9-month period, allotting for at least 6 months of follow-up. All patients had a detailed history and physical examination by experienced vascular surgeons and a complete venous ultrasound evaluation by registered vascular technologists having experience in venous imaging. Charts were reviewed for patient factors including body mass index, age, clinical class (Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology [CEAP] classification), and treatment. Deidentified data from the chart review were entered into a local database. Queries were designed to identify trends in the data. The results of the queries were exported to a spreadsheet program for analysis per patient and per limb.

Results: There were 506 patients evaluated for venous disease during a period of 9 months. We identified 200 patients with chronic venous disease who required superficial vein treatment. There were 136 (68%) women. Ablation was required in 156 patients (78%), whereas 44 (22%) required only adjunctive therapy (microphlebectomy or sclerotherapy). The average number of ablations in patients with venous disease was 1.3 (259 ablations in 200 patients). In patients who needed at least one ablation, the average was 1.7 ablations per patient (259 ablations in 156 patients). Unilateral ablation was done in 94 patients (60%), and 62 patients (40%) had bilateral treatment. Of those who underwent unilateral ablations, 61% required adjunctive treatment of the contralateral limb. In patients who required only adjunctive therapy (no ablation), 73% underwent bilateral treatment. There were 182 limbs (45.5%) that did not require ablation as no reflux was found in the saphenous systems. Of the 156 patients who underwent ablation, 218 limbs had at least one ablation; 52% of limbs had C2 disease and on average underwent 1.1 ablations/limb. Only 7 of 113 (6%) limbs required more than one ablation. Average ablations per limb increased with clinical class, C3 having 1.2 ablations/limb, C4 having 1.4 ablations/limb, and C5 and C6 having 1.56 ablations/limb.

Conclusions: Patients with venous disease required on average 1.3 ablations/patient. Most (78%) require at least one ablation for an average of 1.7 ablations/patient. There were 182 limbs (45.5%) with no saphenous reflux that did not require an ablation. The average number of ablations/limb increased with CEAP class.