Stents for chronic venous insufficiency: why, where, how and when--a review.

Venous stenting has introduced a minimally invasive and safe technique that can be performed on an outpatient basis with little downtime for the patient. It is applicable in a wide spectrum of patients with chronic venous disease with disabling symptoms. Long-term patency and clinical outcome are excellent even when associated reflux is present and left untreated. The need for open surgery to correct reflux or obstruction has been drastically reduced; however, such procedures can still be carried out later in the event of stent occlusion or failure to relieve symptoms.