Varicose veins of the lower limbs caused by incompetence of the saphenous-femoral ostium: standard or complete stripping?
De Toma, G.; Gabriele, R.; Campli, M.; Sgarzini, G.; Pompa, G.; Mazzocconi, G.
Il Giornale di Chirurgia 10(11): 637-640
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0391-9005 PMID: 2518402 Document Number: 333661
The Authors report their experience of 256 stripping operations performed during the last 3 years for varicose veins of the lower extremities. Preoperative Doppler examination was used to detect reverse flow in the saphenous veins. Removal of the entire saphenous trunk was performed in 158 limbs with segmental or total reverse flow; in the remaining 98 cases with reflux only in the proximal tract of the saphenous vein a selective stripping operation and, five weeks later, phlebectomy of remaining varicosities were performed. The results were assessed by follow-up examination from 6 months to 3 years. When there is a specified indication, the selective stripping operation appears to be an excellent and aesthetic solution with a very low incidence of saphenous nerve's injuries. Useful advice to obtain the best results with the traditional stripping operation are also pointed out.