[Diagnosis of chronic venous insufficiency]. / Diagnostische Verfahren bei chronischer venöser Insuffizienz.

For the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), various therapeutic options are available. In addition to conservative compression therapy, classical vein surgery, sclerotherapy and endoluminal therapies are increasingly being used to treat varicose veins. For a differentiated indication and correct treatment planning, a stepwise diagnosis with clinical examination and documentation of typical symptoms, dynamic vein function measurement to assess the global venous status as well as a qualitative assessment of the exact insufficient vein segments by means of color-coded duplex sonography is required. Due to the non-invasiveness of the examination and the good assessability of therapeutically relevant parameters such as anatomic conditions, diameter, and reflux of insufficient veins, color-coded duplex sonography is considered the gold standard for imaging diagnostics.

[Innovations in medical compression therapy]. / Innovationen der medizinischen Kompressionstherapie.

For the treatment of phlebological and lymphological diseases as well as constitutional edema diseases, a discussion of innovative concepts of medical compression therapy is essential. It is recommended that medical compression stockings should always be prescribed based on symptoms and with the lowest effective interface pressure to optimize the tolerability of compression therapy. Likewise, medical compression stockings with an integrated care formula, but also the application of additional skincare can improve the quality of life and compliance in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. Optimization of ulcer therapy can be achieved by using two-component compression stocking systems. These consist of an understocking and a firm outer compression stocking, which improve the venous and capillary hemodynamics with good wearing comfort and lead to the healing of venous ulcerations. Multicomponent compression bandages and short stretch bandages are proven in the decongestion phase of edema. Multicomponent bandages ensure a sustained interface pressure for at least 5 days and are ideal for outpatient treatment with less frequent dressing changes. For compression therapy in patients with arterial-venous leg ulcers (ABI [ankle brachial index] >0.5), specially developed "lite" versions of the multicomponent dressings can be used.

Better wearing comfort of knee-length elastic compression stockings with an interface pressure of 18-21 mmHg compared to 23-32 mmHg in elderly people after a one day trial - Influence on foot deformities, rheumatism and arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Although the efficacy of compression therapy through knee-length compression stockings with an interface pressure of 18-21 mmHg for leg oedemas has been confirmed by many studies, 91% of patients are still treated with a higher interface pressure. METHOD: In this prospective open randomised monocentric study 19 patients (age ≥65, movement restrictions and symptomatic leg oedema) received knee-length compression stockings with an interface pressure of 18-21 mmHg (stocking type 1) and 23-32 mmHg (stocking type 2). On two consecutive days each of the two compression stocking types were worn for at least 8 hours. After this test period, both stocking types were assessed subjectively and skin changes were recorded. RESULT: A significantly (p-value <0.001) subjective improvement of the symptoms and complaints based on leg oedema was reported with the knee-length compression stockings. The Stocking type 1 recorded a significantly (p = 0,045) better wearing comfort. In addition, the Stocking type 2 was significantly too large amongst women in the front foot area (p = 0.044). The most common side effects were constrictions on the proximal lower leg (stocking type 1 = 73,7% (14/19); stocking type 2 = 78,9% (15/19)). Subjects with arthritis (p = 0.006), hallux valgus (p = 0.034) and/or digitus flexus (p = 0.021) found the socking type 1 significantly more comfortable. CONCLUSION: In order to achieve optimal patient compliance it is recommended to prescribe knee-length compression stockings with an interface pressure of 18-21 mmHg if the following criteria are met: age ≥65 years, female sex, arthritis, digitus flexus (claw toe) or hallux valgus.

[Endovenous thermal ablation of saphenous varicosis]. / Endovenöse Thermoablation der Stammvarikose.

Endoluminal catheter-based procedures enable venous reflex in varicose saphenous veins to be eliminated. The catheter tip is positioned in the sapheno femoral or popliteal junction under ultrasound guidance. The energy necessary to ablate the vein is generated as heat by high-frequency current (radiofrequency) by laser light or by steam. Advantages of this procedure include low invasiveness, subcutaneous infusion anesthesia (SIA), low perioperative morbidity and rapid restoration of mobility of patients.

[The treatment of malignant tumors on venous leg ulcers. Case presentation and literature review]. / Therapie maligner Tumoren auf venösen Beinulzera. Kasuistik und Literaturübersicht.

Malignant changes in persistent venous leg ulcers are a grave complication of chronic impaired wound healing. In our case, a venous leg ulcer had persisted on the right calf for 30 years. Exophytic tumors in the ulcer with frequent bleeding prompted biopsies. A squamous cell carcinoma was found, but only in the second biopsy. The surgical procedure was planned so that in a single session both the tumor and the underlying causes of the chronic venous insufficiency in the leg could be treated appropriately. Extirpation of the enlarged lymph nodes in the groin was combined with crossectomy and removal of the long saphenous vein, followed by circular radial excision of the ulcer scar fascia (fasciotomy). The excised tissue was examined histologically. Muscle biopsies were taken from the site of suspicious adhesions of the fascia to the calf muscle. The large, circular defects on the lower leg were covered with the appropriate dressing to condition the wound bed. After three weeks the well-granulated area was covered with meshed split skin grafts. During the operation and in the post-operative phase, machine-assisted and manual decongestion was performed, an established therapy for lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency and chronic venous ulcers.