O eco-Doppler colorido na avaliação das varizes recidivadas Color-flow duplex scanning in the assessment of recurrent varicose veins

Objective: The aim of the present study is to use color-flow duplex scanning to determine the prevalence of reflex in the greater saphenous vein stump in patients with recurrent varicose veins after saphenous vein stripping. All other possible causes of recurrence were also evaluated. Method: Over a 3-year period, 469 patients with recurrent varicose veins were prospectively assessed. The cohort had 45 men and 424 women, with a mean age of 53.5 years, ranging from 25 to 82 years. Altogether, 683 lower limbs were assessed. In each limb, all sites of reflux in the superficial, deep and perforator systems that could account for varicose vein recurrence were evaluated. Results: Reflux in the greater saphenous vein stump was identified in 188 out of the 683 limbs (27.54%) of the cases. In the majority of the cases (24.75%), reflux in the greater saphenous vein stump was associated with other causes of recurrence, such as residual greater saphenous vein in the thigh (4.68%); residual greater saphenous vein in the leg (8.78%); short saphenous vein (33.52%); deep venous system (14.2%); thigh perforators (26.35%); leg perforators (61.05%); lateral accessory saphenous vein (7.32%); medial accessory saphenous vein (2.78%). In most cases, recurrence was caused by one (33.39%) or two (40.4%) sites of reflux. Conclusion: The present study allows the following conclusions: the prevalence of reflux in the greater saphenous vein stump is 27.54%; in most cases, reflux in the greater saphenous vein stump is associated with other causes of recurrence.