Venous Top 10 Priorities (priority setting in association with the JLA)

A final workshop was held 27th September 2021 and brought together patients and healthcare professionals to jointly agree a priority list for venous research.

1. How can all patients be given the opportunity to access the specialist assessment and treatment they need?
2. How can awareness and education of venous disease be improved?
3. How can leg symptoms and tissue damage be prevented and treated in people with deep venous disease including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)?
4. How can varicose veins be prevented from happening or coming back after treatment?
5. How can the number of patients actually using compression treatment be improved?
6. How can leg symptoms and tissue damage be prevented and treated in people with superficial venous disease?
7. How can venous leg ulcers be made to heal more quickly?
8. What is the best type of compression for patients with venous disease and how do we improve compliance?
9. How can pain be better controlled in venous leg ulcers?
10. How common is pelvic vein incompetence and is treatment effective?

The following questions were also discussed and put in order of priority at the workshop:

11. How can the early detection of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) be improved?
12. What is the most effective treatment for varicose veins?
13. Will a greater understanding of the bacteria living in venous leg ulcers result in less infection and/or greater wound healing?
14. What is the best way to prevent blood clots in the deep veins or lungs (DVT or PE) following treatment of varicose veins?