R May – författare

Venous valves rank among the smallest and most delicate organs of the human and animal bodies - so why devote an entire book to them? We were induced to do so by several reasons. First of all we would point out the clinical significance of venous valves. In the pathogenesis of a number of widespread diseases, such as varicose veins or the post-thrombotic syndrome, venous valves are involved as the underlying cause or at least a factor contributory to the symptoms. According to Taheri et al. these venous diseases occur ten times more frequently than arterial obliterations. Incompetence of venous valves also plays a causal role in varicocele, the most frequent cause of male infertility. But not only pathogenetic reasons induced us to write this book. In more recent times there has been a growing tendency to reconstruct functional valve disorders therapeutically; several surgical methods have been developed, which are critically reviewed in this book. It was our aim to sum up existing knowledge with respect to structure and function of venous valves and to expand that knowl­ edge by findings of our own. Examinations of semi-thin sections and unilayered en-face preparations have hardly been published so far, and systematic studies of the ultrastructure by electron-microscopy were not to be found in the literature. We are very grateful, therefore, to Dr. Silvana Geleff for having undertaken such a study upon our suggestion.

Venous valves rank among the smallest and most delicate organs of the human and animal bodies - so why devote an entire book to them? We were induced to do so by several reasons. First of all we would point out the clinical significance of venous valves. In the pathogenesis of a number of widespread diseases, such as varicose veins or the post-thrombotic syndrome, venous valves are involved as the underlying cause or at least a factor contributory to the symptoms. According to Taheri et al. these venous diseases occur ten times more frequently than arterial obliterations. Incompetence of venous valves also plays a causal role in varicocele, the most frequent cause of male infertility. But not only pathogenetic reasons induced us to write this book. In more recent times there has been a growing tendency to reconstruct functional valve disorders therapeutically; several surgical methods have been developed, which are critically reviewed in this book. It was our aim to sum up existing knowledge with respect to structure and function of venous valves and to expand that knowl­ edge by findings of our own. Examinations of semi-thin sections and unilayered en-face preparations have hardly been published so far, and systematic studies of the ultrastructure by electron-microscopy were not to be found in the literature. We are very grateful, therefore, to Dr. Silvana Geleff for having undertaken such a study upon our suggestion.

DDDDDDDDDDDD Effective management logically follows accurate diagnosis. Such logic often is difficult to apply in practice. Absolute diagnostic accuracy may not be possible, particularly in the field of primary care, when management has to be on analysis of symptoms and on knowledge of the individual patient and family. This series follows that on Problems in Practice which was con­ cerned more with diagnosis in the widest sense and this series deals more definitively with general care and specific treatment of symp­ toms and diseases. Good management must include knowledge of the nature, course and outcome of the conditions, as well as prominent clinical features and assessment and investigations, but the emphasis is on what to do best for the patient. Family medical practitioners have particular difficulties and advantages in their work. Because they often work in professional isolation in the community and deal with relatively small numbers of near-normal patients their experience with the more serious and more rare conditions is restricted. They find it difficult to remain up-to-date with medical advances and even more difficult to decide on the suitability and application of new and relatively untried methods compared with those that are ''old'' and well proven. IX Their advantages are that because of long-term continuous care for their patients they have come to know them and their families well and are able to become familiar with the more common and less serious diseases of their communities.