Surgical Enhancement of Skin Oxygenation in Patients with Venous Lipodermatosclerosis

Abstract

Lipodermatosclerosis and venous ulceration may result from ***long-standing venous hypertension. Furthermore, venous ulceration is associated with reduced transcutaneous oxygen tension, (TcPo₂).

This study investigates the effect of surgical removal of varicose veins upon skin oxygenation postoperatively, thereby influencing any subsequent venous ulceration.

Patients with unilateral long saphenous vein incompetence, were studied consisting of 10 males and nine females, (mean overall age = 50 ± 3 years). TcPo₂ measurements at rest and using 100% oxygen stress testing were performed 24 h preoperatively under standard test conditions, with the contralateral limb serving as control.

Patients with lipodermatosclerosis were confirmed to have an oxygen diffusion block preoperatively in the affected limb, (P = 0.02). Surgical correction of venous hypertension produced significant improvement in oxygen diffusion after stress testing (P = 0.003) compared to control limbs or patients with uncomplicated varicose veins.

Surgical correction of incompetent varicose veins in patients with lipodermatosclerosis resulted in the improvement of TcPo₂ which may delay or prevent subsequent venous ulceration.