Status of vein valve transplant after 12 months.

Sequelae of the postphlebitic syndrome can now be treated by direct valve surgery. However, present surgical treatment of stasis ulcer, including removal of the incompetent communicating veins, ulcer excision, and skin grafting, remains essential to patient care. When done alone, perforator interruption and ulcer care are effective but allow a high rate of ulcer recurrence. Experimental studies to restore venous valve function have included autogenous vein valve transplantation, and synthetic valve procedures also have been tried. Clearly, the patency rate of an autogenous vein graft is better than any other procedure. Operations were done in 11 patients using an autogenous vein valve from the upper extremity to restore a normal-functioning venous valve in the lower extremity. Data on preoperative and postoperative measurements and ascending and descending venography indicate hemodynamic improvement of venous function in these extremities.