DOES A VARICOSE SAPHENOUS-VEIN EXIST

Objective: Duplex ultrasound evaluation of the clinically diagnosed va ricose long saphenous vein (LSV). Design: Prospective, single patient group study. Setting: Department of Surgery, University of Ferrara, It aly (teaching hospital). Patients: 378 patients, 509 limbs with primar y varicose veins; 94 patients, 103 limbs with a visible, superficial v aricose vein trunk on the medial aspect of the thigh. Main outcome mea sure: Duplex ultrasound detection of a varicose saphenous vein and/or segmental saphenous dilatation and their relationship to saphenous ref lux. Results: In 98% of cases the varicose trunk visible in the thigh tvas demonstrated to be a tributary of the saphenous vein; 34% of the observed saphenous veins exhibited segmental dilatations in the thigh. This finding was related in every case to saphenous vein reflux with high velocity and turbulence (p<0.0001). Conclusions: High-resolution ultrasonography demonstrated that when a dilated varicose longitudinal vein trunk is visible and palpable on the medial aspect of the thigh it is most likely to be a tributary rather than the LSV. In addition, a varicose saphenous vein along its entire length essentially does not exist. However, when a dilated saphenous segment occurs, it seems to be related to high diastolic flow velocity and turbulence.