Quality of Life after Venous Stenting for Post-thrombotic Syndrome and the Effect of Inflow Disease

Patients with PTS experience an impaired quality of life (QoL). We aimed to study QoL in patients stented for post thrombotic syndrome (PTS) and analyze the influence of different parameters.

Patients stented for PTS after iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis were asked to complete the Chronic Venous Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (CIVIQ-20) and the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) in this cross-sectional study. All other data were collected retrospectively. Primary endpoints were median CIVIQ-20 and physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary SF-36 scores. The influence of age, sex, and years between the procedure and completion of questionnaire were investigated using a multivariate linear regression model. Wilcoxon signed rank test compared the PCS and MCS with the normative. Effects of inflow from the deep femoral vein (DFV) and/or the femoral vein (FV) on QoL was analyzed in patients with patent stents.

The response rate was 70.3% (n = 45/64). Time period (median) from stenting to questionnaire completion was 6.6 years (IQR: 8.0). Most stents were placed unilateral left-sided (73.3%). For patients with patent stents (n = 42) median CIVIQ-20 was 35.5 (IQR: 17.3), higher than the minimum of 20.0 (P < .001). Median PCS of 44.7 (IQR: 14.2) was lower (P < .001), and MCS of 55.9 (IQR: 7.1) higher (P = .001) than the normative (50.0). Time since stenting and sex were not associated with QoL. Age was a significant predictor [standardized coefficient ß = .36, P = .04] for QoL using the CIVIQ-20, but not for the SF-36. Inflow disease did not impact QoL, but patients with occluded stents (n = 3) had poor functioning levels.

Quality of life is impaired after venous stenting for PTS, particularly physical functioning, among patients with an open stent, but was similar between patients with good and impaired inflow. Patients with a permanent stent occlusion had the lowest QoL.