Carbon monoxide poisoning in a patient with carbon dioxide retention: a therapeutic challenge.

We present the case of a 70 year-old man with carbon monoxide poisoning following a house fire. A significant smoking history and likely underlying chronic lung pathology complicated treatment, as due to symptomatic retention of carbon dioxide we were unable to use high-flow oxygen to facilitate the elimination of carbon monoxide. We suggest that patients with risk factors for obstructive lung disease be monitored extremely carefully during treatment for carbon monoxide toxicity

Endovenous management of varicose veins

Varicose veins are a very common condition and have been the subject of a recent proliferation of treatment modalities. The advent of the endovenous treatment era has led to a confusing array of different techniques that can be daunting when making the transition from traditional surgery. All modalities offer excellent results in the right situation, and each has its own treatment profile. Thermal ablation techniques have matured and have a reassuring and reliable outcome, but the arrival of nonthermal techniques has delivered further options for both patient and surgeon. This article provides an overview of the different treatment devices and modalities available to the modern superficial vein surgeon and details the currently available evidence and summation analysis to help surgeons to make an appropriate treatment choice for their patients

Deep Venous Reconstruction: A Case Series

Objectives This study aims to review a case series of deep venous reconstruction procedures performed at one centre by a single consultant. Methods A retrospective review of deep venous reconstruction procedures performed by a single consultant from 1994 to 2013 was carried out and all notes were reviewed for outcomes. A 58-month cumulative patency rate was calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results Nineteen patients underwent deep venous reconstruction procedures including the Palma bypass, May-Husni bypass, femoral vein transposition and axillary vein transplant techniques from 1994 to 2013. Eleven patients were male and eight were female with a mean average age of 45.2 years (range 29-63). Clinical severity of disease ranged from C3 to C6, and 16 patients had a confirmed history of deep vein thrombosis. Cumulative primary patency rate for all reconstructions at 58 months was 89.5%, with two patients occluding and 17 remaining patent at last follow-up. Conclusion Deep venous reconstructions, particularly the Palma and May-Husni procedures, are feasible and can have good outcomes in patients failed by endovascular techniques and other more conservative therapies

Foam sclerotherapy versus ambulatory phlebectomy for the treatment of varicose vein tributaries: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background Ambulatory phlebectomies and foam sclerotherapy are two of the most common treatments for varicose vein tributaries. Many studies have been published on these treatments, but few comparative studies have attempted to determine their relative effectiveness. Methods/design This is a prospective single-centre randomised clinical trial. Patients with primary truncal vein incompetence and varicose vein tributaries requiring treatment will be assigned randomly to either ambulatory phlebectomies or foam sclerotherapy. The primary outcome measure is the re-intervention rate for the varicose vein tributaries during the study period. The secondary outcomes include the degree of pain during the first two post-operative weeks and the time to return to usual activities or work. Improvements in clinical scores, quality of life scores, occlusion rates and cost-effectiveness for each intervention are other secondary outcomes. The re-intervention rate will be considered from the third month. Discussion This study compares ambulatory phlebectomies and foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of varicose vein tributaries. The re-intervention rates, safety, patient experience and the cost-effectiveness of each intervention will be assessed. This study aims to recruit 160 patients and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03416413. Registered on 31 January 2018

The advent of non-thermal, non-tumescent techniques for treatment of varicose veins

Varicose veins are common and their management has undergone a number of changes over the years. Surgery has been the traditional treatment option, but towards the 21st century, new endovenous thermal ablation techniques, namely, radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ablation, were introduced which have revolutionised the way varicose veins are treated. These minimally invasive techniques are associated with earlier return to normal activity and less pain, as well as enabling procedures to be carried out as day cases. They are, however, also known to cause a number of side-effects and involve infiltration of tumescent fluid which can cause discomfort. Non-thermal, non-tumescent methods are believed to be the answer to these unwelcome effects. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is one such non-thermal, non-tumescent method and, despite a possible lower occlusion, has been shown to improve the quality of life of patients. The early results of two recently launched non-thermal, non-tumescent methods, mechanochemical ablation and cyanoacrylate glue, are promising and are discussed

Retrograde inversion stripping as a complication of the ClariVein (R) mechanochemical venous ablation procedure

The endovenous revolution has accelerated the development of new techniques and devices for the treatment of varicose veins. The ClariVein® mechanochemical ablation device offers tumescentless treatment with a rotating ablation tip that can theoretically become stuck in tissue. We present the first report of retrograde stripping of the small saphenous vein without anaesthesia following attempted use of the ClariVein® device, without adverse sequelae

Varicose veins and their management

Varicose veins are common and affect a significant proportion of the UK population. They negatively impact on patients’ quality of life and are an important cause of morbidity. Treatment has been shown to improve the quality of life in those affected, and is endorsed by international clinical practice guidelines. In the UK, traditional techniques of saphenofemoral and saphenopopliteal junctional ligation with or without stripping have been largely superseded by minimally invasive, day surgery techniques under local anaesthesia. The most commonly performed include radiofrequency ablation and endovenous laser ablation, both endothermal techniques which may be associated with procedural discomfort and complications relating to the use of thermal energy. More recently, novel techniques, including mechanochemical ablation and cyanoacrylate glue, have entered the clinical arena with promising results. Saphenous sparing techniques also exist, selectively disconnecting refluxing points between the superficial and deep venous systems (CHIVA) or by removing incompetent tributaries via selective phlebectomy (ASVAL). This article discusses the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of varicose veins, including the latest endovascular and targeted open surgical techniques

Truncal varicose vein diameter and patient-reported outcome measures

Background Varicose veins and chronic venous disease are common, and some funding bodies ration treatment based on a minimum diameter of the incompetent truncal vein. This study assessed the effect of maximum vein diameter on clinical status and patient symptoms. Methods A prospective observational cohort study of patients presenting with symptomatic varicose veins to a tertiary referral public hospital vascular clinic between January 2011 and July 2012. Patients underwent standardized assessment with venous duplex ultrasonography, and completed questionnaires assessing quality of life (QoL) and symptoms (Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire, EuroQol Five Domain QoL assessment and EuroQol visual analogue scale). Clinical scores (Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) and Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic (CEAP) class) were also calculated. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between QoL, symptoms and vein diameter. Results Some 330 patients were assessed before surgery. The median maximum vein diameter was 7·0 (i.q.r. 5·3–9·2) mm overall, 7·9 (6·0–9·8) mm for great saphenous vein and 6·0 (5·2–8·9) mm for small saphenous vein. In linear regression analysis, vein diameter was shown to have a significant association with VCSS (P = 0·041). For every 1-mm increase in vein diameter, there was a 2·75-fold increase in risk of being in CEAP class C4 compared with C2. No other QoL or symptom measures were related to vein diameter. Conclusion Incompetent truncal vein diameter was associated with increasing VCSS, but not a variety of other varicose vein disease-specific and generic patient-reported outcome measures