The Role of External Banding Valvuloplasty in the Surgical Management of Chronic Deep Venous Disease

Abstract

Objective: Correction of venous reflux by perivalvular banding in patients suffering from chronic venous stasis secondary to primary valvular incompetence. Design: Prospective study in a group of patients with severe venous insufficiency. One patient (one extremity) was lost to follow-up. Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients: Twelve patients (13 extremities) with severe or moderate venous insufficiency. Interventions: Correction of valvular incompetence by narrowing a valvular ring with an external band. Twenty-seven bands were fitted to incompetent valves of 13 extremities. Main outcome measures: Abolition of reflux and improvement of muscle pump measured by clinical, plethysmographic and venographic criteria. Results: Symptomatic improvement was found in 10 extremities (77%) and complete correction of reflux on venography in eight extremities (67%). Plethysmographically measured reflux improved in 6 extremities (50%) and muscle pump function improved in 7 extremities (58%). No correlation was found between plethysmographic and clinical or venographic outcome. Conclusion: Perivalvular banding can correct reflux and alleviate clinical symptoms of chronic venous stasis in patients with primary valvular incompetence. Selection of patients, valves to be corrected, necessary degree of valvular ring narrowing and need for additional interventions should be further investigated.