Reverse foam sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein with sapheno-femoral ligation compared to standard and invagination stripping: a prospective clinical series.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison of Reverse Foam Sclerotherapy of the great saphenous vein (GSV) combed with sapheno-femoral junction (SFJ) ligation to standard (Babcock) stripping and invagination (Pin) stripping in a prospective clinical series.


METHODS
Prospective clinical series.


METHODS
90 consecutive limbs of 82 patients with incompetence of the GSV resulting in varicose veins were prospectively randomised into 3 groups of 30, treated by SFJ ligation and either reverse foam sclerotherapy, standard stripping or invagination stripping of the GSV. Outcomes were assessed post-operatively and at 2-weeks follow-up. Peri-operative blood loss (24 hrs), analgesic requirement, bruising and residual varicosities were assessed. Bruising was assessed by both patients and independent assessors using questionnaires.


RESULTS
SFJ ligation plus reverse foam sclerotherapy of the GSV was associated with significantly less blood loss, bruising and post-op discomfort than either of the stripping techniques. (p<0.001, Mann-Whitney)


CONCLUSIONS
Standard stripping of the GSV and invagination stripping are not associated with major discomfort and problems in the early post-operative period. SFJ ligation and GSV reverse foam sclerotherapy yielded greater patient satisfaction with less post-op bruising and discomfort and reduced analgesic requirements.
Abela
R
R
Department of Vascular Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, UK. abelrachel@googlemail.com
Liamis
A
A
Prionidis
I
I
Mathai
J
J
Gorton
L
L
Browne
T
T
Panayiotopoulos
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate