Phlebolymphology N°78

The venous valves of the lower limbs

Alberto Caggiati Department of Anatomy University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy ABSTRACT Venous valves appear after the heart begins to beat and the primordial muscles begin to move the limb buds. The pressure gradient due to heart beats and muscle movements triggers the process of venous valve development. Prenatal, postnatal, and senile morphological and numerical rearrangements have been described. However, the signaling pathways related to venous valve morphogenesis have yet to be clearly demonstrated. The cusps of the venous valves consist of thin collagen half-moon–shaped folds covered by endothelium, which spring from the wall of the vein very close to each…

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Thrombosis and pulmonary embolism risk in patients undergoing varicose vein surgery

Andreas Oesch Chirurgie FMH, Kramgasse 16, CH 3011, Bern, Switzerland ABSTRACT Varicose veins are not by themselves dangerous. Nevertheless, when treating them, it is important to prevent the occurrence of complications with potentially serious consequences such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Vein operations are among the procedures carrying the lowest risk of all surgical interventions. Publications on thromboembolism after vein surgery show a striking discrepancy in the number of reported cases of thromboembolism, which is partially due to the different methods used to record them. Most thromboses are localized in the calf and their damage potential is limited,…

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Venous endoscopy

Firmilian CALOTA, Stelian Stefanita MOGOANTA University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, The IInd General Surgery Department, Craiova, Romania ABSTRACT Venous endoscopy, one of the latest technologies of invasive exploration of the veins, holds unexpected therapeutic potential. It allows the visualization of normal and pathological endovenous structures. While most pathological structural changes are usually acquired, some of them (intraluminal cords, strips) may be remnants of vein genesis. Normal valve dynamics vary with the pressure of the flow and so reflect functional and structural asymmetry, a fundamental characteristic of the living world. Information provided by venous endoscopy has allowed us to…

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Phebolymphology N°78 – Editorial

Dear Readers, This issue contains some very good review articles about venous anatomy, the thrombotic risks of patients undergoing varicose vein surgery, conservative treatment of chronic venous disease, and the value of venous endoscopy. The first article, written by Dr Alberto Caggiati from Rome, gives a very interesting description of the distribution of the valves in the deep, superficial, and perforating veins of the lower limb. This review article explains the embryology of venous valve development as well as the age-related changes in valves which can explain why aging is an important risk factor for vein thrombosis. These data also…

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Conservative treatment of chronic venous disease: the Italian experience

Giovanni B. AGUS Section of Vascular Surgery and Angiology, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. ABSTRACT Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a highly prevalent clinical condition with substantial epidemiological implications and socioeconomic repercussions. CVD is a worldwide problem and does not only affect patients in Western countries. The consequences of its high prevalence, diagnosis and therapy costs, significant worker absenteeism, and its impact on patients’ quality of life are well known. Pharmacotherapy for CVD, solely represented by venoactive drugs, has seen great developments over the last 40 years. Venoactive drugs are widely used in…

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Phlebolymphology N°78 (Vol 20 – N°2 – 2013)

EDITORIAL Editorial Marc VUYLSTEKE – Phlebolymphology – 2013 ; 20 (2): 86 PHLEBOLOGY The venous valves of the lower limbs Alberto Caggiati – (Rome, Italy) – Phlebolymphology – 2013 ; 20 (2): 87 Thrombosis and pulmonary embolism risk in patients undergoing varicose vein surgery Andreas Oesch – (Bern, Switzerland) – Phlebolymphology – 2013 ; 20 (2): 96 Conservative treatment of chronic venous disease: the Italian experience Giovanni B. Agus – (Milan, Italy) – Phlebolymphology – 2013 ; 20 (2) 101 Venous endoscopy Firmilian Calota , Stelian Stefanita Mogoanta – (Craiova, Romania) – Phlebolymphology – 2013 ; 20 (2): 112

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