The particularities of connective fibers from the wall of varicose veins extirpated by cryostripping

Abstract

Introduction: The varicose vein affects more than 30% of the general population. Significantly increased rates were noticed in women and older population. From the histopathological point of view, venous arterialization, smooth muscle cell hypertrophy, and hyperplasia are the main changes noticed in varicose vein disease. Some of the main therapeutic methods used in the management of varicose disease are injection sclerotherapy, conservative, surgical, saphenous vein inversion and removal, high saphenous ligation, ambulatory phlebectomy, transilluminated powered phlebectomy, endovascular management, cryostripping. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology of connective fibers from the wall of the varicose veins extirpated by cryostripping. Patients, Materials and Methods: The study included 109 samples taken by cryostripping method. Hematoxylin–Eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Silver and Orcein staining were applied. The assessment of fibers was made according to score values between 0 and 3. Results: It was found no major structural differences in terms of alterations of collagen fibers induced by the applied surgical procedure. It was noticed duplications and multiplications of the internal elastic lamina, as diffuse and nodular forms. Depletion of elastic fibers at the media was a lesion identified in most of the specimens. The depletion of reticulin fibers correlates with the accumulation of collagen fibers, which partially or completely replace the network in the media and intima. No correlation was found between changes in the reticulin network and the time between prelevation and buffered formalin fixation, the maximum time investigated being five days. Conclusions: The Orcein staining in the venous vessel evaluation panel may be a useful investigation.