Is Subfascial Endoscopic Perforator Surgery Really an Abolished Choice? The Present Situation of the Challenge by a New Method in Japan

Abstract

Subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) for the incompetent perforator veins (IPVs), which is the cause of stasis skin lesion on the lower leg, was performed in Europe and America as the minimally invasive method instead of Linton’s operation. Good results were shown, but were not enforced too much when they entered the 21st century. We surfaced two points, insufficiency of the maneuver maturity and the big difference in medical system with Japan when we examined the background. Japanese SEPS is simpler and easier than that in Europe and America, and it is performed by a high-quality method and the treatment result is better than Europe and America, as a result, SEPS was accepted as a medical service under national health insurance in April 2014. Japanese modern style SEPS is hopeful as a treatment choice which can be performed in the outpatient clinic by a laborer.