title: Transilluminated powered phlebectomy: advantages and disadvantages of a new technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transilluminated powered phlebectomy is a new procedure for minimal invasive varicose vein surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate this technique for its benefit and the technique-related risks and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were prospectively operated with this new technique by the same surgeon (11 of them bilaterally [41 legs in all]). According to the sonography, sapheno-femoral-junction ligation and stripping of the long saphenous vein were done if necessary. The phlebectomy of the side branches was done with the new system (Trivex System/Smith and Nephew). The postoperative follow-up was at 10 days and 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no intraoperative complication. The mean operation time per leg was 40 minutes. Twenty-five patients had an uneventful postoperative course. Twenty two have been very satisfied with the cosmetically result. Two patients required reoperation because of postoperative hematoma. One patient developed a seroma, which could be managed via puncture. One patient developed persistent brown scar. The overall morbidity was 12.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using transilluminated powered phlebectomy, multiple and large incisions could be reduced. A perfect cosmetic outcome might be reached if the surgeon is aware of technique-related complications. To evaluate the real value of this technique, further randomized trials are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Operative Laparoscopy at the Second Surgical Department, Academic Teaching Hospital, Linz, Austria. andreas.shamiyeh@aon.at
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamiyeh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schrenk
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Danis
authors.forename: Wolfgang Ulf
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Wayand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*