Endovenous surgery for recurrent varicose veins with a one-year follow up in a patient with Ehlers Danlos syndrome type IV

Abstract

We present a woman with severe symptomatic recurrent varicose veins who was treated with endovenous laser ablation and transluminal occlusion of perforator with attempted phlebectomies for extensive varices. The phlebectomies turned out to be near impossible due to friability of the veins. Her treatment was completed with post-operative ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy seven months later. She was subsequently diagnosed as Ehlers Danlos syndrome type IV. A duplex ultrasound scan 18 months post-endovenous laser ablation and transluminal occlusion of perforator and 11 months after ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy confirmed successful closure with virtual atrophy of all treated veins. She was found to be reflux free and only showed a few scattered cosmetic reticular veins. Open varicose vein surgery has been reported as being hazardous in the past in a patient with Ehlers Danlos syndrome type IV. Our experience has shown that endovenous laser ablation, transluminal occlusion of perforator and ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy appear to be effective in treating this patient with Ehlers Danlos syndrome type IV, although phlebectomies were technically impossible.