Faculty Bibliography

Objectives To describe compliance rates of compression therapy in a cohort of patients with chronic venous disease and also to describe frequent causes of non-compliance. Methods A total of 889 patients with primary chronic venous disease were prescribed compression therapy after being evaluated by vascular surgeons. Subjects had a first visit during which time compression therapy was prescribed in addition to a follow-up visit. Strength of compression, type, prescription duration, and reasons of non-compliance were queried at follow-up. Results Only 31.8% of the patients reported wearing compression therapy as prescribed, 31.4% reported wearing compression most days, 28.3% reported wearing compression intermittently, and 8.5% of the patients reported not wearing compression at all. The main reasons of non-compliance were: uncomfortable (49.4%), too difficult to put on (34.5%), skin problems (itching) (21.5%), and unattractive (19.8%). Conclusions Compliance with compression therapy in chronic venous disease is still a subject of concern as most patients are not using compression therapy as prescribed.

BACKGROUND: The Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) Varicose Vein Registry (VVR) represents a patient-centered database launched in January 2015. Previous work describing overall trends and outcomes of varicose vein procedures across the United States demonstrates a benefit from these procedures. The existing gaps in evidence to support current and future Medicare coverage of varicose vein procedures necessitate further description of clinical outcomes in patients >/=65 years old compared with the population <65 years old. METHODS: This study analyzed prospectively captured anatomic, procedural, and outcome data for all patients in a national cohort of all VQI VVR-participating centers. The VQI VVR database was queried for all patients undergoing varicose vein procedures between January 2015 and July 2016. Preprocedural and postprocedural Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathophysiology (CEAP) classification, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) were compared between patients <65 years and >/=65 years old. Univariate descriptive statistics of demographic and procedural data were performed. Student t-tests were then performed on change in CEAP classification, VCSS score, and PROs (heaviness, achiness, throbbing, swelling, itching, appearance, and impact on work) for each group. RESULTS: There were 4841 varicose vein procedures performed from January 2015 to May 2016. There were 3441 procedures performed in 2691 patients (3631 limbs) in the group <65 years old and 1400 procedures performed in 1068 patients (1467 limbs) in the group >/=65 years old. Truncal veins alone were the most common veins treated in both groups. The majority of patients were white and female in both groups. Most of the demographic characteristics were clinically similar (although statistically different) in both groups with the exception of a higher body mass index in the group <65 years old and a history of bilateral varicose vein treatment, and anticoagulation was more common among patients >/=65 years old. Patients in both groups experienced statistically significant improvement in VCSS, PROs, and CEAP class. There was no difference in overall complications between age groups. CONCLUSIONS: All patients demonstrated an associated improvement in both clinical outcomes (CEAP class, VCSS) and PROs. There was no significant difference in the improvement in CEAP class and VCSS between patients younger and older than 65 years, although the younger population reported greater improvement in PROs. Given these findings, patients older than 65 years appear to benefit from varicose vein procedures and should not be denied interventions on their varicose veins and venous insufficiency on the basis of their age only.

Varicose veins and chronic venous disease are common problems in the United States. Persons with these conditions often have an adversely affected quality of life. There are a number of proven interventions to treat varicose veins and to improve patients' life quality, but these interventions are often restricted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private third-party payers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have private contractors that administer Medicare policies in 10 jurisdictions across the United States. There is no national policy or coverage for the treatment of varicose veins; rather, there are multiple, disparate regional policies written by the contractors that cover the same Medicare beneficiary population. These disparate policies are not evidence based and provide unfair coverage of the same disease to the Medicare population, depending on where they live. Our proposal is for a national coverage determination policy for the treatment of varicose veins.

OBJECTIVE: The Vascular Quality Initiative Varicose Vein Registry (VQI VVR) represents a new Patient Safety Organization database launched in January 2015 as a collaborative effort between the American Venous Forum and the Society for Vascular Surgery. This study was undertaken to identify real-world trends among treatment choices and outcomes of varicose vein patients. METHODS: Registry data prospectively captured anatomic, procedural, and outcome data for patients with C2 or more severe disease undergoing intervention for venous varicosities from January to November 2015. Univariate descriptive statistics of demographic and procedural data was performed. Preprocedural and postprocedural comparisons were performed with t-test or chi2 analysis as appropriate. RESULTS: In total, 2661 veins in 1803 limbs of 1406 patients were treated for varicose vein disease. The majority of patients were female (71.5%) and white (78.3%). Previous varicose vein treatment had been undertaken by 31.2%. The most common site of reflux was the great saphenous vein in 74.4%, with 31% of patients having coexisting deep venous reflux. The right and left extremities were affected equally. Endovenous treatment of axial reflux was the preferred treatment in 89.1%, divided largely between radiofrequency ablation (55.2%) and endovenous laser ablation (33.9%). Clusters were often treated concomitantly with truncal reflux (n = 488 [76%]). The majority of cluster treatments were performed in an office-based setting (78.1%). The majority of clusters were located at the calf (89.7%) and treated with stab phlebectomy (84.8%). For all patients undergoing intervention for varicose veins, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) improved on average 4.68 +/- 3.35 (n = 719; P < .001) postoperatively from a mean preoperative VCSS of 9.39 +/- 3.87 to a mean postoperative VCSS of 4.71 +/- 3.83. Improvements were seen in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of heaviness, achiness, throbbing, swelling, itching, appearance, and work impact (total score change, 10.75 +/- 6.94; n = 607; P < .001) from a mean preoperative PRO score of 16.48 +/- 6.23 to a mean postoperative PRO score of 5.73 +/- 5.80. CONCLUSIONS: The VQI VVR provides detailed assessment of varicose vein interventions and is useful for monitoring of changes after treatment. Modern-day varicose vein surgery is characterized by predominantly endovenous treatment of axial vein reflux, phlebectomy of clusters, and substantial improvements in both VCSS and PROs.

OBJECTIVES: A randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of polidocanol endovenous microfoam (1%, Varithena(R) [polidocanol injectable foam], BTG International Ltd.). METHODS: Patients (n = 77) with symptomatic, visible varicose veins were randomized to treatment with either Varithena 1% or placebo. RESULTS: Varithena provided greater mean changes from Baseline in patient-reported assessments of symptoms (e.g., heaviness, achiness, swelling, throbbing, itching [HASTI(R)] score 30.7 points vs 16.7 points, p = 0.0009, primary endpoint; and modified Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study-Quality-of-Life/Symptoms [m-VEINES-QOL/Sym; p < 0.001]), physician-assessed VCSS, and physician- and patient-assessed appearance compared with placebo.The HASTI score correlated highly with the modified-VEINES-QOL/Sym and Chronic Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire-2 scores (r = 0.7 to > 0.9, p