Placement of intravenous cannulae prior to ambulatory phlebectomy.
BACKGROUND
Ambulatory phlebectomy (AP) is a popular outpatient procedure for the removal of varicose veins. One of the major obstacles of AP is the disappearance and shift of the veins to be removed when the patient is positioned horizontally.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to verify the usefulness of preoperative placement of intravenous cannulae.


METHODS
Forty-three vein segments of four consecutive patients with varicose veins were treated by AP with preoperative placement of intravenous cannulae. The procedures including anesthesia, incision, and exteriorization of the veins were performed with intravenous cannula in situ. We compared the courses of cannula and preoperative conventional marking of the veins. The time spent with extracting a vein was also compared with that spent with conventional procedure.


RESULTS
The preoperative cannulation provides excellent fixation of varicose veins to their original position, at least at the puncture sites. The disagreement of courses between cannula and preoperative conventional marking was noticed in 47.8% of the vein segments from the knees and thighs, and in 15% from the lower legs. The time spent for extracting a vein was reduced by more than half with our method.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous cannulation prior to AP is a simple procedure, but significantly improves the technique of AP by more accurately guiding the site of anesthesia and incision.
Kim
Y G
YG
Department of Dermatology, Eulji Hospital, Eulji Medical College, Seoul, Korea. kyg5101@eulji.or.kr
Oh
J K
JK
Lee
A Y
AY
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*