OBJECTIVE Ulceration of free flaps in patients with venous insufficiency and/or lymphedema is an uncommon but challenging problem. We hypothesized that dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (Epifix) grafts would accelerate healing of these challenging ulcers. METHODS Retrospective analysis of prospectively acquired data identified 8 lower extremity free flaps with ulcerations in the contex...

OBJECTIVE Pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) is difficult to diagnose, poorly understood, and often confused with other causes of chronic pelvic pain. Thus, gonadal vein reflux, its relation to lower extremity venous insufficiency (LEVI), and treatment remains controversial to physicians and payors. We present our experience with endovascular PCS treatment and hypothesize that properly selected p...

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is a lifelong, moribund and debilitating disease process with tremendous personal financial costs. At its core, CVI involves blood pooling in the lower extremities secondary to inadequate venous return, resulting hypertension incompetence of one-way valves extremity veins. As circulation slows, metabolic demands cells increase, leading stasis dermatitis, infec...

The purpose of this review is to define animal models of chronic venous disease and to demonstrate how animal studies can impact our understanding and treatment of this disorder. To this end an extensive literature search was conducted highlighting potential animal models of chronic lower extremity venous disease. Scientific investigations using animals to study particular aspects of this disea...

A patient aged 25 years with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in the course of vena cava inferior agenesis is described. This very rare malformation can be connected with chronic venous insufficiency or thrombotic complications. In such cases other congenital abnormalities should be excluded and suspicion of vena cava inferior agenesis should always be taken into consideration in young pati...