title: Long-term results of external valvuloplasty in adult patients with isolated great saphenous vein insufficiency.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to present our 7-year results of external valvuloplasty for isolated great saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  External valvuloplasty was applied in 83 patients with isolated GSV insufficiency. Follow-up consisted of venous color duplex scanning performed on the first postoperative day, the first postoperative month, and then annually. Valvular insufficiency, venous reflux, and venous thrombosis formation in the saphenofemoral junction were the main outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A complete clinical and radiological healing was observed in 50 patients (60%). In 13 cases (15.6%), a secondary surgical treatment was performed consisting of vena saphena magna high ligation/stripping and varicose vein excisions, mainly due to severe and progressive vena saphena magna valvular insufficiency and clinical persistence of symptoms. Eight patients (9.6%) developed superficial vein thrombosis, and only one patient (1.2%) developed deep vein thrombosis. Contact was lost from 32 patients (38.5%) for different reasons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  External valvuloplasty is an effective surgical technique for selected cases of isolated GSV insufficiency without extensive varicose dilatations. This alternative method can be safely administered as an alternative to high ligation and conventional GSV stripping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Samsun Medical Park Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarac
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Samsun Medical Park Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Artan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahollari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Samsun Medical Park Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sureyya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Talay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevket
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Samsun Medical Park Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozal
mesh_terms: D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: external valv; insufficiency; saphenous; valvuloplasty; varicosis; vein
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