Gore external valve support for superficial saphenous vein XXXX : a 10-year, follow-up registry.

@entity1 @entity66 @entity101 @entity337 @entity4096 @entity736 @entity1211 @entity5778
AIM: This long-term (10-year) study evaluated the safety and efficacy of expanded @entity736 (ePTFE) external valve support (EVS) implants used for external valvuloplasty in the treatment of @entity337 of the proximal long saphenous veins. METHODS: During a 10-year follow-up, @entity1 with superficial @entity66 and @entity101 due to pure superficial vein @entity337 underwent an external valvuloplasty using an EVS with a PTFE suture. Forty-nine @entity1 were included in the EVS group and 47 in the control group. @entity1 with superficial @entity66 and @entity101 due to pure superficial @entity1211 were randomised into two treatment groups. The first group was treated with what was considered "conventional treatment" (ligation or stripping) and the second with external valvuloplasty with EVS. This report deals with controls treated with ligation as only 6 cases (not mentioned in this report) were treated with stripping. There were no significant differences in the two groups concerning age, sex, or type of @entity4096 . The procedures focused on only one single limb per @entity1 . RESULTS: 46.9% of limbs treated with EVS developed varices in comparison with 73% in the control group. New surgical procedures (localized ligation) were needed in 32.6% of the EVS @entity1 vs. 55.3% in controls. Sclerotherapy was used in 42% of the EVS @entity1 vs. 72.34% in controls. At 10 years the SFJ was incompetent (reflux) in 2 EVS @entity1 (4%); one after 5 years and one after 7 years. There was no @entity337 at the level of the ligated junction in controls. There were 62 incompetent venous sites (1.26 per limb) in the EVS group vs. 96 new incompetent venous sites (2.04 per limb) in controls. In controls 10.63% of the limbs developed minor discolorations and signs due to mild CVI; none was observed in the EVS group. In all @entity5778 implants there was full restoration of competence at 1 year. CONCLUSION: EVS implants used to correct superficial @entity1211 at 10 years were well tolerated and produced good results on @entity337 and on the evolution of varicose veins.
