Prevalence and Mortality of Venous Leg Diseases of the Deep Veins: An Observational Cohort Study Based on German Health Claims Data.

This study estimates the prevalence and mortality of diseases of the deep veins of the legs such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), postthrombotic syndrome (PTS), and venous leg ulceration (VLU). We used a random sample of 250 000 patients at age 50+ years of the register of the Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse from 2004 to 2015. Selected manifestations of venous diseases assumed as risk factors for mortality were analyzed using Cox models while adjusting for various basic demographic and health characteristics. The prevalence in 2004 was 0.05% for DVT of the femoral veins, 0.50% for DVT of any deep veins, 0.86% for PTS, and 0.91% for VLU. The mortality rate in 2004 to 2015 was 20.40 deaths/100 person-years for DVT of the femoral veins, 10.69 for DVT of any deep veins, 4.34 for PTS, and 7.02 for VLU. The model revealed a 35% higher risk (p < .001) in patients with any DVT, an 88% higher mortality (p < .001) for femoral DVT, a 23% higher risk (p < .001) for VLU, and no health disadvantage in persons with PTS. Our study revealed an increased mortality for patients with VLU and DVT. Even after adjustment for embolic events and infections of the venous ulcers mortality remained significantly higher.

Perioperative Outcomes of Lower Extremity Revascularization for Rest Pain and Tissue Loss.

BACKGROUND: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is the clinical manifestation of severe peripheral artery disease presenting as rest pain (RP) and tissue loss (TL). Most studies compare CLI as a homogenous group with claudication with limited database studies specifically studying these differences. We hypothesize that CLI should be stratified into RP and TL because of significant differences in disease severity, comorbidities, and outcomes. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2016 was reviewed. All patients with a postoperative diagnosis of CLI undergoing femoral to popliteal bypass (FPB) with vein or graft were identified. Patients were stratified into cohorts based on International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 or ICD-10 codes for RP or TL (gangrene or ulcer). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine 30-day mortality, morbidity, major amputation, and readmission adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and procedural details. RESULTS: There were 5,304 patients. Compared to RP, patients with TL were older (P < 0.0001) and more likely to be dependent (P < 0.0001). TL patients were also more likely to have diabetes (P < 0.0001), congestive heart failure (P < 0.0001), renal failure (P = 0.004), dialysis (P < 0.0001), history of wound infection (P < 0.0001), and sepsis (P < 0.0001). TL patients had higher American Society of Anesthesiologists class (P < 0.0001), were less likely to be transferred from home (P < 0.0001), and more likely to receive an FPB with vein (P = 0.03). Patients with TL had worse perioperative outcomes compared with RP in terms of pneumonia (P = 0.004), unplanned intubation (P = 0.009), cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P = 0.003), bleeding requiring transfusions (P < 0.0001), sepsis (P < 0.0001), septic shock (P = 0.02), and reoperation (P < 0.0001). TL was associated with significantly higher 30-day morbidity (P < 0.0001), 30-day mortality (P < 0.0001), major amputation (P = 0.0004), and readmission rates (P = 0.005). Patients with TL compared with those with RP also had longer hospital stays (P < 0.0001) and days between operation to discharge (P < 0.0001). TL was independently associated with increased 30-day morbidity (OR: 1.16 [1.00-1.35]) and major amputation (OR: 2.48 [1.29-4.76]) compared with RP. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with RP and TL have drastic differences that impact perioperative mortality and readmissions. TL is an independent predictor of 30-day morbidity and major amputation. The stratification of CLI into RP and TL can provide insight into variations in outcomes and provide a means to quantify the risks associated with the 2 manifestations of the disease.

A Meta-Analysis of the Outcomes of Split-Thickness Skin Graft on Diabetic Leg and Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic lower limb ulcers are a serious complication to diabetes that could lead to amputation and death. Split-thickness skin graft (STSG) has been proposed by some authors to treat noninfected diabetic wounds, mainly those found in the leg and on the dorsum of the foot. No quantitative evidence synthesis over this technique has been reported in the literature. The study is a meta-analysis on the effectiveness of STSG in treating diabetic leg and foot ulcers. Electronic databases were searched from inception. No limitation was imposed on study design. Eleven studies comprising 757 patients with 759 foot/leg ulcers were included. After a mean period of 2 years, 85.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.766-0.925) of ulcers were healed over a mean time of 5.35 ± 2.25 weeks, with a recurrence rate of 4.2% (95% CI = 0.009-0.096), an infection rate of 4.4% (95% CI = 0.013-0.092), and a regrafting rate of 12.1% (95% CI = 0.053-0.212). Infection was the only reported donor site morbidity with a frequency of 1.74% (95% CI = 0.001-0.048). These weighted values are found to be noticeably superior to those reported in the literature following standard conventional care. The results of the review make STSG the ideal method to treat noninfected recurrent or recalcitrant ulcers of the leg and dorsal foot. Furthermore, the authors argue that STSG should be used more frequently in the management of such wounds. The findings should encourage future prospective investigations.

Prognostic factors of ulcer healing and amputation-free survival in patients with critical limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: A multidisciplinary approach is required to treat critical limb ischemia. We determined the poor prognostic factors of ischemic ulcer healing after optimal arterial revascularization, and assessed the efficacy of the medication therapy using cilostazol, which is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-center, cohort study, 129 limbs that underwent infrainguinal arterial revascularization for Rutherford class 5 critical limb ischemia were reviewed. The primary end point was the ulcer healing time after arterial revascularization. The secondary end point was the amputation-free survival rate. RESULTS: Of the 129 limbs, endovascular therapy was performed in 69 limbs, and surgical reconstructive procedures were performed in 60 limbs for initial therapy. Complete ulcer healing was achieved in 95 limbs (74%). The median ulcer healing time was 90 days. In multivariate analysis, no cilostazol use significantly inhibited ulcer healing ( p = 0.0114). A white blood cell count >10,000 ( p = 0.0185), a major defect after debridement ( p = 0.0215), and endovascular therapy ( p = 0.0308) were significant poor prognostic factors for ulcer healing. Additionally, ischemic heart disease ( p < 0.0001), albumin levels <3 g/dl ( p = 0.0016), no cilostazol use ( p = 0.0078), and a major defect after debridement ( p = 0.0208) were significant poor prognostic factors for amputation-free survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Ulcer healing within 90 days after arterial revascularization is impaired by no cilostazol use, a white blood cell count >10,000, a major defect after debridement, and endovascular therapy. Furthermore, cilostazol improves amputation-free survival rate in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Prior Endovascular Intervention Is Not Detrimental to Pedal Bypasses for Ischemic Wounds.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular strategies are often preferred for revascularization of ischemic foot wounds secondary to infrapopliteal disease because of the less invasive technique and faster recovery. Bypass is typically reserved for failures or lesions not amenable to balloon angioplasty. However, the effects of an endovascular-first approach on subsequent bypass grafts are largely unknown. This study evaluates the effects of prior endovascular tibial interventions (PTIs) on successive bypasses to pedal targets. METHODS: Patients who presented with ischemic tissue loss and tibial arterial occlusive disease to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between 2006 and 2013 and underwent a surgical bypass to pedal arteries were included in this study. A retrospective chart review was conducted to obtain patient demographics, past medical history, extent of disease, prior tibial endovascular interventions, the treatment intervention, subsequent interventions, wound healing status, limb salvage, and patient survival. The primary outcome was primary patency of the pedal bypass graft. RESULTS: From 122 eligible patients, 27 had a PTI, whereas 95 had no prior endovascular tibial intervention (nPTI) in the treatment of ischemic pedal wounds with mean follow-up of 24.5 and 20.5 months, respectively (P = 0.36). The 2 groups were largely similar in terms of demographics, comorbidities, wound size, and degree of ischemia. Runoff scores between the 2 groups were also comparable (5.0 ± 1.6 for PTI and 4.8 ± 1.9 for nPTI, P = 0.59). The plantar artery was a more common target vessel in the PTI group, whereas the posterior tibial artery was targeted more often in the nPTI group (P = 0.04). At 12 months, those with a PTI exhibited a shorter primary patency (34.8% vs. 60.2%, P = 0.04). In a multivariate model, PTI was a significant risk factor for primary patency loss (hazard ratio 2.51, P = 0.004). Primary assisted patency and secondary patency were similar between the 2 groups. Wound healing was improved in those patients who had a prior endovascular intervention with 63.8% healed at 1 year compared with only 34.8% of those without intervention (P = 0.01). Amputation-free survival was similar (P = 0.68), as was survival alone (P = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decrease in primary patency, pedal bypass was not otherwise negatively affected by a PTI. Similar primary assisted patency, secondary patency, wound healing, and survival between the 2 patient populations indicate that an endovascular-first approach is a feasible treatment strategy to achieve similar clinical outcomes in the management of ischemic foot wounds.

Long-Term Outcome of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Tissue Loss Stratified to a Nonrevascularization Approach.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients presenting with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and tissue loss that were stratified in our limb preservation program to receive aggressive wound care without revascularization. METHODS: Veterans presenting with PAD and nonhealing wounds were prospectively enrolled into our Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) program. Patients were stratified according to management strategies, which include: revascularization, primary amputation, palliative limb care, and aggressive local wound care without revascularization (conservative group). This study focuses on the conservative cohort. Wound presentation, type of wound care provided, wound care-associated procedures, healing rates, revascularization, major amputation, wound recurrences, management of recurrent wounds, and patient survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Between January 2006 and November 2014, 601 patients were prospectively enrolled in our PAVE program. A total of 203 limbs in 183 patients with 231 wounds were allocated to the conservative group based on a validated pathway of care. Mean follow-up for this cohort was 33.6 months (range, 1.5-104). Complete wound healing was achieved in 148 limbs (73%). The mean time to healing was 4.1 months. Twenty-four limbs (11.8%) received "late revascularization" (beyond 6 months from enrollment). Overall limb preservation was 90% at 4 years, with 57% freedom from wound recurrence. In patients with recurrence over 80% were successfully managed without revascularization. Limb loss was attributed to infection in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this selected group, an initial approach with aggressive wound care without revascularization appears justified with good limb salvage. Long-term analysis demonstrated a notable incidence of wound recurrence (43%) albeit most recurrences can be successfully managed without the need for late revascularization and no increased incidence of limb loss.

Factors Affecting Mortality After Major Nontraumatic Lower Extremity Amputation.

Our aim was to evaluate the factors affecting the mortality of patients who underwent nontraumatic major lower limb amputation due to ischemic and/or diabetic causes. A total of 100 patients were included in the study. Among these patients, 70 (70%) underwent below-knee amputation, whereas 30 (30%) underwent above-knee amputation. Eleven (15.7%) of the 70 patients who underwent below-knee amputation and 12 (40%) of the 30 patients who underwent above-knee amputation (P = .008) were deceased. After multivariable Poisson regression analysis, female gender (risk ratio [RR] = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.07-3.74) and a neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) less than 6.8 (RR = 5.12, 95% CI = 1.86-14.08) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. The value of 6.8 was used as a cutoff point for the NLR (area under the curve = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.62-0.85), with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 83%, 66%, 57%, and 92%, respectively. The NLR and female gender were found to be independent factors that are related to increased mortality in patients who underwent lower limb amputation due to diabetic and/or ischemic causes. The coexistence of congestive heart failure and the amputation level (above knee) were found to be predictors of mortality in univariable analysis, but significance could not be demonstrated in multivariable analysis.

Squamous cell carcinomas in chronic venous leg ulcers. Data of the German Marjolin Registry and review.

BACKGROUND: Secondary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare complication of chronic venous leg ulcers. So far, little is known about its pathophysiology and clinical behavior. Initiated by the working group "Wound Healing" (AGW) of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG), it is the objective of the current Marjolin registry to collect cases of SCC arising in venous ulcers, in order to evaluate diagnostic characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All members of the AGW received questionnaires inquiring about basic patient data, ulcer characteristics, and therapy conducted. RESULTS: From 2010 to 2013, 30 patients (20 women, 10 men) from six tertiary wound care centers were registered. Mean age was 76.17 years. The average duration of venous leg ulcers prior to SCC diagnosis was 15.93 years. Suspicious wound characteristics primarily included: pain (n = 3), therapy resistance (n = 27), and fetor (n = 12) as well as clinical appearance (n = 10) with atypical morphology, nodular wound bed, and hypergranulation. CONCLUSIONS: Atypical morphology or changes in appearance as well as therapy resistance despite optimal care (6-12 weeks) should prompt physicians to take spindle-shaped, if necessary multiple and serial, biopsies. Primary risk factors for malignant transformation include patient age and ulcer duration.

Clinical outcomes of patients with peripheral artery disease and lower extremity wounds based on a predetermined intention-to-treat strategy.

Achieving healing in patients with peripheral artery disease and lower extremity wounds represent a significant clinical challenge. Important outcome measures that define a successful therapeutic approach include wound healing rate, time to heal, and recurrence with time. This article reviews our experience managing a peripheral artery disease patient cohort at a Veterans Affairs medical center based on the initial clinical evaluation stratification and prospective enrollment into a predetermined treatment strategy.

Influence of surgical or endovascular distal revascularization of the lower limbs on ischemic ulcer healing.

AIM: Our aim is to analyze the ability of distal endovascular procedures, performed as first treatment option, to promote ischemic ulcer healing. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 91 primary distal procedures, 49 (53.8%) surgical and 42 (46.2%) endovascular, performed consecutively between January 2005 and December 2007 in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and ischemic ulcers. Patient comorbidities, intervention duration time, postoperative hospital stay and complications were recorded. Ischemic ulcer healing time, patency, limb salvage and survival rates were compared between both groups. Data were included in a Cox regression model to determine predictive factors for healing RESULTS: Endovascular therapy was associated with shorter intervention time (128±53 versus 301±91 min; P=0.001) and postoperative hospital stay (13±13 versus 19±14 days; P=0.05). Surgical procedures were associated with more local complications (28.6% versus 7.1% P=0.01), more readmissions for surgical wound complications (12.2% versus 0% P=0.03) and more early major amputations (16.3% versus 0% P=0.007). Ischemic ulcer healing in endovascular and surgical procedures was 80% versus 83% at 12 months (P=NS). Overall patency, limb salvage, survival and amputation-free survival with healed ulcers at 24 months in endovascular and surgical groups were 82% versus 82% (P=NS), 83% versus 72% (P=NS), 81% versus 79% (P=NS) and 63% versus 56% (P=NS). Diabetes mellitus (HR: 2.86 95% CI [1.44-5.68]), free ambulatory status (HR: 0.57 95% CI [0.33-0.98]) and the presence of severe wounds (HR: 2.73 95% CI [1.40-5.30]) were predictors for ulcer healing. CONCLUSION: Endovascular and surgical distal procedures had a similar ulcer healing rate and limb salvage. Our experience supports endovascular-first strategy for CLI with tissue loss.

Management of lower extremity wounds in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a stratified conservative approach.

BACKGROUND: Traditional wound care algorithms include aggressive detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and treatment with revascularization for all patients with PAD and lower extremity wounds. Not every patient with PAD and a wound meets Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASCII) criteria for critical limb ischemia. We hypothesize that a conservative approach to selected patients with PAD and lower extremity wounds may be safe, provide acceptable limb salvage, and that failure of this approach does not translate into increased limb loss. METHODS: Veterans referred with PAD and nonhealing ulcers/wounds were prospectively enrolled into our Prevention of Amputation Care Team program. Patients were stratified according to management strategies which included revascularization, primary amputation, palliative limb care, and aggressive local care without revascularization (conservative group). Patients were assigned to conservative management group on the basis of transcutaneous oxygen measurement (TcpO2) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Healing rates, need for "late" revascularization, major amputation rates, and survival of this conservative group were analyzed in terms of ABI and ankle pressures. RESULTS: Between January 2006 and March 2009, a total of 190 lower extremity wounds in 178 patients with PAD were analyzed. Forty-nine patients with 52 wounds (27.9%) were deemed candidates for conservative treatment. During mean follow-up of 14.5 months, complete wound healing was documented in 33 patients (35 wounds: 67%). Mean time to complete wound healing was 4.5 months. Predictors of healing included mean ABI (0.62 vs. 0.42 [p < 0.001]) and ankle pressures >70 mm Hg (p = 0.025). Sixteen patients (17 wounds: 33%) were not healed at the time of analysis. Of these, three patients (four wounds: 8%) showed active healing and 13 (13 wounds: 25%) failed conservative management. Nine patients (9 wounds: 17%) underwent late revascularization. There was one case of amputation (2%) and six cases of mortalities (12.2%). There was no increase in the rates of limb loss and mortality in patients who failed conservative management and underwent "late" revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: Conservative management of lower extremity nonhealing wounds in selected patients with PAD is successful in over two-thirds of the patients. The failure of conservative management does not increase mortality or amputation rates. When the TcPO2 is >30 mm Hg, the ABI and the TASC II definition of critical limb ischemia predict wound healing and should be key factors in considering conservative therapy.

Four layer bandage compared with short stretch bandage for venous leg ulcers: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials with data from individual patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of two types of compression treatment (four layer bandage and short stretch bandage) in people with venous leg ulceration. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of patient level data. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and National Research Register) and reference lists of retrieved articles searched to identify relevant trials and primary investigators. Primary investigators of eligible trials were invited to contribute raw data for re-analysis. Review methods Randomised controlled trials of four layer bandage compared with short stretch bandage in people with venous leg ulceration were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome for the meta-analysis was time to healing. Cox proportional hazards models were run to compare the methods in terms of time to healing with adjustment for independent predictors of healing. Secondary outcomes included incidence and number of adverse events per patient. RESULTS: Seven eligible trials were identified (887 patients), and patient level data were retrieved for five (797 patients, 90% of known randomised patients). The four layer bandage was associated with significantly shorter time to healing: hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) from multifactorial model based on five trials was 1.31 (1.09 to 1.58), P=0.005. Larger ulcer area at baseline, more chronic ulceration, and previous ulceration were all independent predictors of delayed healing. Data from two trials showed no evidence of a difference in adverse event profiles between the two bandage types. CONCLUSIONS: Venous leg ulcers in patients treated with four layer bandages heal faster, on average, than those of people treated with the short stretch bandage. Benefits were consistent across patients with differing prognostic profiles.

Mortality and diabetes mellitus in amputations of the lower limbs for gas gangrene: a case report.

The aim of this study was to examine any association between the presence of diabetes in patients with gas gangrene of the legs and mortality following major lower limb amputation. In a retrospective study, patients submitted to amputation of lower limbs for anaerobic infections were evaluated in the period from January 2005 to January 2007 in the University Hospital de Base in Sao Jose do Rio Preto. All the patients were hospitalized for the treatment of ulcerated lesions of the leg. The study sample consisted of 30 men and 10 women aged between 46 and 87 years (mean 69 years) suffering from anaerobic infections. During treatment, the presence of crepitation in the skin was observed as was gas by radiological examination. Amputation was performed within 2 to 6 hours after diagnosis. Diabetes was identified in 33 patients and death occurred within the perioperative period in 12 cases. Diabetes is associated with the necessity of amputation for gas gangrene resulting in a high mortality rate.

The incidence and characteristic features of fatal hemorrhage due to ruptured varicose veins: a 10-year autopsy study.

Death due to hemorrhage from ruptured peripheral varicose veins is an uncommon event. A review of the files of Forensic Science SA (FSSA) in Adelaide, South Australia, was undertaken over a 10-year period from January 1996 to December 2005 for such cases. A total of 8 cases were found out of a total of 10,686, representing <0.01% of autopsy cases. The male to female ratio was 1:3, with an age range of 58-84 years (mean = 78 years). The victims were all located at their home addresses, where they had been alone at the time of their deaths. Scene investigations revealed considerable blood loss, with pooling around the victims' bodies, and also in other parts of the house, particularly the bathroom/toilet areas. Four ulcers were of an acute perforative type and 2 were of a chronic ulcerative type. In 2 cases, bleeding followed trauma. Toxicologic evaluation was performed in only 3 of the cases, revealing blood alcohol levels of 0.06% and 0.14% in 2 cases, respectively. A further victim had been prescribed anticoagulant drugs for an unrelated condition. Additional findings of significance were ischemic heart disease in 3 cases and deep venous thrombosis of the calf veins on the side of the fatal hemorrhage in another case (with no evidence of pulmonary thromboembolism). One victim had acute gastric erosions, suggesting that hypothermia following collapse played a role in the terminal event. Autopsy evaluation of such cases should include careful layer dissection of the area of hemorrhage to confirm the presence of the ruptured varix and to enable directed histologic sampling.

Maggot debridement therapy in the palliative setting.

Success rates of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) differ, but range from 70% to 80%. In this article it is argued that wound closure is not always feasible and is not always the aim of the treatment. A patient is described in whom the intent of MDT was not wound closure, but infection removal, reduction of odor, and eventually prevention of a below knee amputation. This succeeded: the pain was diminished, the odor reduced, and the wound showed signs of healing. Still the patient died. In maggot literature, as with other wound treatments, outcome is recorded as closed or as failed. In our opinion, MDT has other indications besides wound closure.

Lower extremity angioplasty for claudication: a population-level analysis of 30-day outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: With the increased availability of lower extremity percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), the conventional, non-interventional management of claudication may be evolving. This study evaluated changes in the use and short-term outcomes of PTA among patients with claudication and other manifestations of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the linked Washington State hospital discharge database (CHARS). Cases included all patients undergoing inpatient lower extremity PTA from 1997 to 2004. Patients with claudication were compared with those having PTA for other lower extremity diagnoses. The main outcome measures were readmission, reintervention (angiography, angioplasty/stent, surgical revascularization, or amputation), and death

Ultrasound-guided injection of polidocanol microfoam in the management of venous leg ulcers.

BACKGROUND: Venous leg ulceration is a frequent and severe complication of lower limb venous insufficiency. Compression therapy is associated with a protracted course of healing and multiple recurrences. Minimally invasive surgery (subfascial endoscopic perforating surgery) is only possible in a subset of patients with leg ulcers. Low-cost and noninvasive therapeutic procedures are needed as alternative treatments. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sclerosant in microfoam in treating venous leg ulceration. DESIGN: A retrospective study of medical records, pretreatment and posttreatment color photographs, and echo Doppler in patients with venous leg ulceration. All patients were evaluated at 6 months after therapy, 70% were also evaluated at 2 years, 25% at 3 years, and 14% at 4 or more years after treatment. They were assessed for complete (100%) ulcer healing, time to wound closure, and recurrence. SETTING: Private vascular surgery clinic in Granada and dermatology department at a hospital in Pamplona, Spain. PATIENTS: Over 115 months, 116 consecutive patients (mean age [range], 57 [25-85] years) treated with ultrasound-guided injection of polidocanol microfoam (UIPM). INTERVENTIONS: To reduce venous hypertension, UIPM was used to selectively and progressively sclerose sources of incompetence. The number of sessions per patient varied between 1 and 17 (mean, 3.6). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complete ulcer healing, defined as full reepithelialization of the wound with absence of drainage. Recurrence was defined as epithelial breakdown in the healed limb. RESULTS: At 6-months' follow-up, treatment with UIPM achieved complete healing in 83% of patients (96/116), with median time to healing of 2.7 months; 7 patients were never cured, and 1 patient was lost to follow-up. There were recurrences in 10 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The use of UIPM to selectively and progressively sclerose incompetent veins produced by venous hypertension is highly effective to achieve a stable ulcer healing with minimal invasion, even in elderly patients. Recurrences are easily treatable with this approach. This technique may become a first-line treatment in the management of leg venous ulcers.