DUPLEX ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT OF NEOVASCULARIZATION AFTER SAPHENOFEMORAL OR SAPHENO-POPLITEAL JUNCTION LIGATION

Objective: Evaluation of neovascularization at the saphenous ligation site as a cause of recurrent varicose veins. Design: Prospective duple x study of a single patient group. Setting: Vascular clinic of a Unive rsity Hospital. Patients: 131 patients (177 limbs) were evaluated 2 an d 12 months after varicose vein surgery. Intervention: Clinical assess ment and colour duplex scanning of operated limbs. Main outcome measur es: Limbs were classified according to the degree of neovascularizatio n: grade 0 = no new communicating vein, grade 1 = new communicating ve in with diameter <4 mm, and grade 2 = new communicating vein with diam eter >4 mm and pathological reflux. Results: Two months postoperativel y, grade 0 was observed in 173 limbs (98%) and grade 1 in four limbs ( 2%). Twelve months postoperatively, 152 limbs (86%) scored grade 0, 16 limbs (9%) grade 1 and nine limbs (5%) grade 2. Conclusions: After co rrectly performed previous surgery, neovascularization of varying degr ee may occur within 1 year, as can be demonstrated on postoperative du plex examination.