Durability of venous valve reconstruction techniques for "primary" and postthrombotic reflux.

PURPOSE: The durability of the variety of valve reconstruction techniques in "primary" reflux and postthrombotic reflux was studied.

METHODS: A total of 423 valve repairs in 235 patients with a follow-up period ranging from 1 to 12 years were analyzed. End points for assessment consisted of ulcer recurrence and Doppler competence in serial duplex examination. Multivariate analysis with Cox proportional hazards model was used.

RESULTS: Ulcer-free survival curves were similar for "primary" and postthrombotic reflux. No significant difference in ulcer recurrence was seen regardless of the technique used. Different results were obtained when valve competence instead of ulcer recurrence was used for assessment of durability. Reconstructions in "primary" reflux were more durable than those in postthrombotic reflux. Durability differences were also noted among different techniques. A cohort of posterior tibial repairs proved extraordinarily durable (0 failures in 23 repairs).

CONCLUSION: Valve reconstruction in postthrombotic reflux can yield clinical results similar to those in "primary" reflux. Although any of the several described techniques can produce similar clinical results, Doppler competence suggests the following order for choice of procedures: (1) internal valvuloplasty, (2) prosthetic sleeve in situ, (3) external valvuloplasty, and (4) axillary vein transfer.