Analysis of a series of patients with varicose vein recurrence

Abstract

Objective: Varicose veins of the lower _xtremities is a common clinical _ondition. Although surgical treatment is _ften successful, the recurrence rate remains high. This retrospective study evaluated the reasons for postoperative recurrence of varicose veins by analysing _ltrasonography and venography Findings in patients with recurrent _isease. METHODS: A series of consecutive cases of recurrent varicose veins of the tower limbs was reviewed. Data collected included clinical characteristics, symptoms and vascular imaging. RESULTS: The study included 109 legs with recurrent varicose veins (92 patients): 101/109 legs (92.7%) showed perforating vein insufficiency and 86/109 (78.9%) showed reflux of the superficial femoral vein, of varying degrees of _everity. Residual saphenous vein was recorded for 82 legs (75.2%), while 19 (17.4%) had blocked iliac veins due to post-thrombotic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: several factors that may contribute to varicose vein recurrence have been identified. These include failure to ligate _erforating veins and initial failure to perform the appropriate surgical _ntervention. Prevention of varicose vein recurrence after surgical correction requires a more extensive use of preoperative imaging, to tailor surgical intervention to suit individual patients. © 2012 Field House Publishing LLP.