[Complex management of lower extremity venous ulcers in elderly patients]

In this article we summarize our experience of combined treatment policy used in 213 patients with venous ulcers. The majority of patients (162 persons, 76%) was of elderly age. After preoperative conservative preparation of ulcers, 140 patients were subsequently operated. In elderly patients with many comorbidities and marked indurative lipodermatosclerosis a single-step operation may not be reasonable or technically feasible. 86 patients (57.7%) from the above-mentioned group were operated in 2 (or more) stages. Minimally invasive operative interventions were performed under local anesthesia at the first stage with the aim of eliminating vertical venous refluxes into superficial varicose veins. In delayed period (after 2-6 months) patients underwent operative ligation, endovenous laser coagulation or ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of incompetent perforating veins. Data obtained from our experience reflect the safety and high effectiveness of staged combined management using minimally invasive operations under local anesthesia, endovenous laser ablation and microfoam sclerotherapy in prevention of embolic complications in patients with trophic ulcers.