2005 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 95-100
Congenital venous abnormalities in the limbs are rare. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is characterized as cutaneous naevus, varicose veins, and bone and soft tissue hypertrophy. Here we showed our experience to treat the patients for KTS with superficial vein surgery. From April 2001, 6 patients underwent operation for KTS. They were 4 male and 2 female at the age of 20 to 56. All patients had KTS abnormalities in one leg, right leg in 2 patients and left leg in 4 patients. All patients showed the varicose veins, and the naevus was observed in 5 patients, and tissue hypertrophy in 3 patients. The CEAP clinical classification was C2 for 5 patients, and C3 for one patients. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated by both ultrasonography and phlebography to determine, 1) patency of the deep veins, and 2) extent and reflux of the varicose veins. Surgery for the varicose veins was performed in all 6 patient, including removal of lateral marginal veins in 4 patients. Two patients required surgery repeatedly due to recurrence of the varicose veins. There were not any complications at all postoperatively, and the mean duration of hospital stay was 4.5 days (1 to 8 days). All patients were significantly relieved from the symptoms related to KTS and very satisfied with the outcome. Our experience suggest that, similarly as previous reports by others, surgical removal of the varicose veins could be safe and satisfactory to treat KTS patients, although many patients with KTS can be managed non-operatively. When ultrasonography and venography showed the normal deep veins and the responsible varicose veins with reflux, surgical management should be considered as one of the strategies to treat the patients with KTS.
