Clinical Significance of Ligation Followed by Sclerotherapy in Treatment of Varicose Veins; with Special Reference to Ligation Techniques and Recurrence Rate

Abstract

In 406 limbs with long saphenous vein incompetence, a number of ligations of the long saphenous vein and the recurrence rate were compared. In 3-ligation group in which ligations were perfomed at the groin, thigh (above knee) and calf (below knee), a significantly higher recurrence rate was shown when all tributaries were not completely dissected at the sapheno-femoral junction. The recurrence rate in 3-ligation group was 30.8% at 5 to 6-year follow up, and was significantly lower than that in 2-ligation groups with ligations at the groin and thigh or at the thigh and calf, and 1-ligation group with ligation at the thigh. From these results, it is obvious that the recurrence rate depends on the ligation techniques. We want to emphasize, therefore, that the treatment outcome should not be discussed collectively as “ligation followed by sclerotherapy”. When the outcome is reported, the ligation technique should be described in detail