PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF PTFE PATCH SAPHENOPLASTY TO PREVENT NEOVASCULARIZATION LEADING TO RECURRENT VARICOSE VEINS

Objective:Recurrence is common after varicose vein surgery. Neovascularization may be one cause of recurrent veins. This was a study of PTFE patch saphenoplasty to try and prevent recurrent veins.Design and setting:Prospective cohort study of patients treated in a vascular surgical unit.Patients and interventions:Fifty patients having surgery for symptomatic long saphenous varicose veins (66 legs, 51 primary and 15 recurrent veins) had a PTFE patch sutured over the saphenous opening after flush saphenofemoral ligation.Main outcome measures:The rate of varicose vein recurrence and neovascularization 1 year after surgery were determined using clinical examination and venous duplex imaging.Results:Forty patients (80%) remained pleased with the results of their surgery. Recurrent veins were visible in 14 (21%) legs: 10 were principally due to neovascularization, two to sapheno-popliteal incompetence and two to an incompetent mid-thigh perforating vein. Three other legs had neovascularization but no recurrent ...