2004 Volume 15 Issue 5 Pages 385-390
Fifty-eight legs on which stripping surgery was performed were divided into two groups; a group in which stripping surgery was performed on the whole length of the leg (conventional stripping, 14 legs) and a group in which stripping surgery was performed on the femoral region (limited stripping, 37 legs). Venous function was evaluated between the two groups with air plethysmography.
The preoperative venous filling index (VFI) in the conventional stripping was significantly higher than that in the limited stripping (9.6±4.2 vs. 7.0±3.6 ml/second, p<0.05), There were no significant differences in venous volume (VV), ejection volume (EV), ejection fraction (EF), or residual volume fraction (RVF) between the two groups (n.s.). The postoperative VV in the conventional stripping decreased from 149±50 ml to 109±32 ml, whereas that in the limited stripping decreased from 151±45 ml to 111±31 ml. The postoperative VFI in the conventional stripping and the limited stripping significantly decreased from 9.6±4.2 ml/second to 2.7±1.9 ml/ second and from 7.0±3.6 ml/second to 1.9±1.1 ml/second, respectively (p<0.01). The postoperative EV in the conventional stripping and the limited stripping significantly decreased from 62 ± 26 ml to 40±20 ml and from 61±32 to 46±28 ml, respectively (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in the preoperative and postoperative EF of both the conventional stripping (39±11% vs. 35±14%, n.s.) and the limited stripping (40±15% vs. 40±14%, n.s.). The decrease in RVF of the conventional stripping was mild (51±12% vs. 46±14%, p=0.09). On the other hand, RVF significantly decreased in the limited stripping (48±13% vs. 41±14%, p<0.05).
When phlebectomy and ligation of incompetent perforators were appropriately performed, limited stripping in the femoral region provided improved venous functions comparable to the conventional stripping.
