PURPOSE: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy (TIPP) offers a minimally invasive operation alternative to stab avulsion for varicose veins. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of TIPP with conventional phlebectomy (CP) for removal of varicose veins. METHOD: A retrospective review was performed on the clinical records from March 2001 to March 2002. We divided the patients into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 87 patients (107 limbs) who had undergone TIPP. The second group of 27 patients (29 limbs) had undergone CP by the stab avulsion. We compared operation time, number of skin incisions, duration of hospital stay, patient's satisfaction scores, and complications. RESULT: Mean operation time was significantly shorter in the TIPP group than in the CP group (47.3 min vs. 64.0 min). The number of skin incision was also significantly less in the TIPP group (3.4 vs. 4.9). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the TIPP group (2.5 days vs. 4.0 days). However, postoperative patient's satisfaction score was similar in both groups. 81 patients (93%) in the TIPP group developed ecchymosis postoperatively, resolved spontaneously within approximately 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: TIPP can make the better cosmetic result, shorter duration of hospitalization and operation time. These results suggest that TIPP is a feasible surgical treatment modality for varicose veins of the lower extremity. However, we should minimize postoperative ecchymosis and improve the surgical technique.
Ecchymosis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity* ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Varicose Veins*

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the correlation between p53, bcl-2 expression and pathologic factors stage, anatomic location, histologic grade, gross pattern, lymph node metastasis of the colorectal cancer. METHODS: Analysis were made on archival pathology tissue of 56 patients with colorectal cancer. The oncoproteins were localized using commerically available monoclonal antibodies : DO-7 for, p53 and clone 124 for bcl-2. RESULTS: P53 protein was detected in 53 out of 56(94.6%) adenocarcinomas of the colorectal cancer and the most frequently expressed patterns of immunoreactivity of p53 were strong in intensity in 40 cases(71.4%) and were diffuse in pattern in 39 cases(69.6%). Bcl-2 protein was detected in 34 out of 56(60.7%) adenocarcinomas of the colorectal cancer and the most frequently expressed patterns of immunoreactivity of bcl-2 were weak in intensity in 17 cases(30.3%) and were diffuse in pattern in 16 cases(28.6%). There was no correlation between p53, bcl-2 expression and Dukes' stage, anatomic location ,histologic grade, gross pattern of tumor, lymph node metastasis of the colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION: 53 mutation and bcl-2 expression are frequent event in human colorectal carcinoma as shown in this study, but p53 and bcl-2 protein expression is not significant independent predicator of aggressiveness and progression of colorectal cancers.
Adenocarcinoma ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Clone Cells ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogene Proteins ; Pathology