Endoscopic Dissection of Incompetent Perforating Veins in the Treatment of Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers

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Abstract
The role of incompetence of calf perforating veins in chronic venous ulcer is currently becoming better defined. Because the traditional Dodd's and Linton's subfascial surgical eradication is often too traumatic to the compromised skin, the endoscopic subfascial discission of perforating veins is gaining ground as a better surgical alternative. In a prospective observational study, 27 patients who underwent endoscopic surgery for a chronic leg ulcer were followed up over a twenty-four-month period. The healing rate was 92% at three months and 77% at twelve and twenty-four months. The introduction of endoscopic subfascial perforating vein dissection provides a new therapeutic concept at least as effective as other conventional techniques in the treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers.