A prospective randomised trial of PIN versus conventional stripping in varicose vein surgery

A prospective, randomised trial was carried out to examine the efficacy of perforate invagination (PIN, Credenhill Ltd, Derbyshire, UK) stripping of t he long saphenous vein (LSV) in comparison to conventional stripping (Astra tech AB, Sweden) in the surgical management of primary varicose veins. Eighty patients with primary varicosities secondary to sapheno-femoral junc tion (SFJ) incompetence and LSV reflux were recruited. Patients were random ised to PIN or conventional stripping with all other operative techniques r emaining constant. Follow-up was performed at 1 and 6 weeks postoperatively . There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniq ues in terms of time taken to strip the vein, percentage of vein stripped o r the area of bruising at 1 week. The size of the exit site was significant ly smaller with the PIN device (P less than or equal to 0.01). Optimal use of the conventional stripper provides results comparable to the PIN device. Choice of stripping device remains the surgeon's, bearing in m ind that the PIN stripper achieves slightly better cosmesis.