Great Saphenous Vein Conventional Surgery in Brazil's Outpatients

Abstract

Objective. Evaluate great saphenous vein conventional surgery performed on an outpatient basis. Methods. Retrospective analysis where patients complain varicose veins with saphenofemoral incompetence and great saphenous vein reflux on Doppler ultrasound. These patients were consecutively enrolled to high ligation plus stripping, either to the ankle or only to the knee, or crossectomy alone. Results. Data from 106 surgery outpatients with CEAP clinical classification is as follows: varicose veins (59.5%), edema (15.1%), skin alterations (9.4%), healed ulcer (9.4%), or open ulcer (6.6%). The techniques employed were 66 high ligations plus stripping to the ankle, 28 high ligations plus stripping to the thigh portion, and 12 crossectomy. No major complications were observed. Overall, 18% reported symptoms consistent with saphenous nerve injury. All but one belonged to the stripping to the ankle group. Conclusion. Great saphenous vein conventional surgery performed on outpatients is very safe. Nerve injury is frequent when stripping extends the ankle.