How do you treat an incompetent perforator?
How do you treat an incompetent perforator?
Minimally invasive treatments have replaced traditional surgical treatments for incompetent perforator veins. Current minimally invasive treatment options include ultrasound guided sclerotherapy (USGS) and endovascular thermal ablation (EVTA) with either laser or radiofrequency energy sources.
How are incompetent perforator veins treated?
Depending on the size and depth of the perforator, one of two treatments will be provided. If the vein is short or small, then foam sclerotherapy injection under ultrasound guidance is performed. A small needle enters the perforator vein and a small amount of foam sclerosant material is injected.
What is the function of a perforator vein?
The perforating veins of the lower limb (PV or “perforators”) are so called because they perforate the deep fascia of muscles, to connect the superficial venous systems of the lower extremity with the deep veins where they drain.
How many perforator veins are in the leg?
There are as many as 155 perforator systems in each extremity. Not all of these are clinically important, but some can cause significant morbidity to the patient. They are thought to play a fundamental role in the development of varicose veins in the lower extremities.
Where are perforator veins located?
They exist along the length of the lower limb, in greater number in the leg (anatomical ref to below knee) than in the thigh. Some veins are named after the physician who first described them: Dodd’s perforator at the inferior 1/3 of the thigh.
What is perforator vein surgery?
What is subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) for venous disease? SEPS is a minimally invasive surgical technique used to treat chronic venous ulcers caused by perforating veins that may have been damaged due to deep vein thrombosis or chronic venous insufficiency.
How many perforator veins are there?
About 150 perforating veins have been identified, and they are grouped based on their location.