Leg ulcer treatment by superficial vein surgery and saline-gauze dressing

Abstract

Rolandas Dagilaitis, Vytautas Triponis, Ingrida Gudgalytė, Dalia Triponienė Vilnius University Centre of Vascular Surgery, Antakalnio str. 57, LT-10207 Vilnius, Lithuania E-mail: [email protected] Objective To determine the effectiveness of phlebectomy and topic saline in patients with leg ulcer caused by isolated superficial vein reflux. Materials and methods One hundred and thirty consecutive patients with 143 ulcers were operated for superficial varicose veins and venous ulcer. Patients with deep reflux, peripheral arterial disease (ankle/brachial index 6 cm respectively. The healing process was complete in 135 (94.4%) ulcers at 1 year. One healed ulcer (0.7%) recurred between 6 and 12 months, 7 ulcers >6 cm showed reepithelialization being in process. Conclusion Phlebectomy in cases of isolated superficial vein reflux is able to heal venous ulcers in majority of patients. The healing rate was correlative with ulcer size and duration. Surgery plus saline-gauze local treatment significantly reduced the costs of venous ulcer treatment. Key words: leg ulcer, superficial vein surgery, topical treatment