PURPOSE: Flush high ligation of the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction combined with invaginated stripping of the greater saphenous vein to just below the knee or perforate invaginate stripping of the proximal lesser saphenous vein appears to be the method of choice for good clinical results and low incidence of damage to the saphenous or sural nerve, and is important in the prevention of recurrence. METHOD: From January 2001 to August 2001, we performed 84 operations for 72 patients with varicose veins. Among them, 77 flush high ligations (62 saphenofemoral and 15 saphenopopliteal) and 64 invaginated strippings (55 greater and 9 lesser saphenous veins) were performed. RESULT: Seventy seven flush high ligations were successfully performed in all patients, but 2 invaginated strippings were failed due to their large branches of greater saphenous veins. All of 9 proximal invaginated strippings for lesser saphenous veins were completely performed without any complications. As early postoperative complications related with invaginated strippings for greater saphenous veins, 24 (43.6%) cases of ecchymosis and 5 (9.1%) cases of paresthesia were occurred at thigh. One case of wound infection at popliteal fossa and 3 cases of wound inflammation at inguinal area were occurred. But those complications were recovered within 10 days. CONCLUSION: The results show that the invaginated stripping is very useful for patients with varicose veins, especially in stripping of lesser saphenous veins and the flush high ligation is safe for the treatment of junctional incompetence.
Ecchymosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Knee ; Ligation* ; Paresthesia ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Sural Nerve ; Thigh ; Varicose Veins* ; Wound Infection ; Wounds and Injuries