ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP) vs. high ligation and stripping (HLS) combined with TIPP in patients with varicose veins of lower limbs.MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 190 patients (206 limbs) of varicose veins of lower limbs who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from December 2017 to July 2018, of them 88 patients (96 limbs) in RFA combined with TIPP group and other 102 patients (110 limbs) in HLS combined with TIPP group. The treatment effectiveness and quality of life was assessed with venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (CIVIQ-14) in three months and one year after surgery. Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate the closure of great saphenous vein.ResultsBaseline characteristics were similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The RFA combined with TIPP group was better than the HLS combined with TIPP group in operation time, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay time, postoperative bed time, resumption time of activities, as well as incidences of skin induration and limb numb (P<0.05). Occlusion rates of great saphenous vein in 3 months was 93.8% (90/96) in the RFA combined with TIPP group and 97.3% (107/110) in the HLS combined with TIPP group, and in one year was 91.7% (88/96) and 97.3% (107/110) respectively, there was no significant difference between the two groups at the same time point (P>0.05). The VCSS scores and CIVIQ-14 scores also improved significantly in two groups in 3 months and 1 year follow up (P<0.05), but there was no significant differences between the two groups at the same time point (P>0.05).ConclusionsRFA combined with TIPP is an effective method for the treatment of varicose veins of lower limbs. Compared with HLS, RFA has the same good effectiveness and quality of life, but it has the advantages of short operation time, rapid postoperative recovery, and less postoperative complications.
ObjectiveTo understand progress of gene research for chronic venous ulcer (CVU) so as to seek for the best treatment strategy for it.MethodThe literatures about studies on gene polymorphism and variability that leaded to the occurrence and development of CVU in recent years were reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe CVU was mainly caused by the chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Many changes in the gene expression had been found in the curable CVU and incurable CVU. The expressions of regulated inflammatory genes, encoding extracellular peptide genes, and encoding different cellular pathways genes in the incurable CVU patients had remarkable differences as compared with the healthy individuals. Although there were more studies on incurable CVU than curable CVU, it was still unable to accurately predict the healing time of CVU. At the same time, genome-wide associations study had not been performed to find single nucleotide polymorphism related to the risk of CVU.ConclusionsAlthough CVU is mainly caused by CVI, not all patients with CVI have ulcer. At present, parts of risk factors of CVU have been known, such as age, iliofemoral vein embolism, deep vein insufficiency, hypertension, obesity, and so on. However, there are fewer studies on heredity, so it is necessary to strengthen its research. Gene expression and gene polymorphism have increasingly become focus of research on causes of chronic inflammation. Genome-wide association study is a gold standard of complex disease genetics, so it is neccessary to further search so as to better understand genetic basis and genetic background of CVU and find the best treatment strategy for improving ulcer healing.