Direct venous surgery for venous valvular insufficiency of the lower extremity.

Seven patients had severe deep venous insufficiency and recurrent ulceration in eight lower extremities. All incompetent perforating veins had been previously ligated. All limbs were evaluated by dynamic venous pressure measurements. The venous pressure reduction with exercise was recorded, as well as the recovery time. The most accurate indicator of venous valvular incompetence was a short postexercise recovery time. Abnormal hemodynamic findings were correlated with ascending and descending venographic findings. Based on these anatomic and pathophysiologic abnormalities, patients underwent valvular transposition, superficial femoral vein valvuloplasty, or superficial femoral vein ligation. Immediate postoperative recovery time (mean +/- SEM) was improved to 34.5 +/- 18.3 s from 7.9 +/- 2.9 s preoperatively. Postoperative venography demonstrated patency of all anastomoses and absence of reflux into previously incompetent venous systems. All limbs were symptomatically improved after operation, and no venous thrombosis or pulmonary emboll developed. Persistent ulceration, however, continued in one limb.