High Ligation of the Greater Saphenous Vein for Treatment of Lower Extremity Varicosities: The Fate of the Vein and Therapeutic Results

This study was carried out to determine the subsequent fate of the greater saphenous vein and the efficacy of its high ligation along with surgical excision or sclerotherapy of varicosities. From 1988 to 1990, 22 patients underwent high ligation and sclerotherapy, 22 underwent high ligation and varicose vein excision, and four underwent high ligation alone. There were 36 women and 12 men patients. The average patient age was 48. Sixty limbs were scanned by duplex ultrasound pre- and postoperatively to determine the status of the greater saphenous vein. Average follow-up time was 10 months. Patients and surgeons rated the results of therapy for ablation of varicosities and alleviation of symptoms. Surgical complications were evaluated. At postoperative scan, 47 greater saphenous veins (78%) were found to be completely patent, nine (15%) were thrombosed for a short segment (less than 10 cm) and four (7%) were more significantly thrombosed. Those limbs in which high ligation and sclerotherapy were performed had the highest complete patency rate (96%). Patient and surgeon satisfaction was good to excellent in every case. The only complications were three symptomatic greater saphenous vein thromboses. Although follow-up is relatively brief, complete patency of the ligated greater saphenous vein was found in most cases. High ligation allows preservation of a patent greater saphenous vein, which can be used as an arterial conduit at a later date and gives therapeutic results comparable to stripping without the additional morbidity.