Defining the role of extended saphenofemoral junction ligation: A prospective comparative study

Objective: This study explores the added effect of extended saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) ligation when the greater saphenous vein (GSV) has been elim inated from participating in thigh reflux by means of endovenous obliterati on. GSV obliteration, unlike surgical stripping, can be done with or withou t SFJ ligation to isolate and study SFJ ligation's specific contribution to treatment results. Methods: Sixty limbs treated with SFJ ligation and 120 limbs treated withou t high ligation were selected from an ongoing, multicenter, endovenous obli teration trial on the basis of their having primary varicose veins, GSV ref lux, and early treatment dates. Results: Five (8%) high-ligation limbs and seven (6%) limbs without high li gation with patent veins at 6 weeks or less were excluded as unsuccessful o bliterations. Treatment significantly reduced symptoms and CEAP clinical cl ass in both groups (P = .0001). Recurrent reflux developed in one (2%) of 4 9 high-ligation limbs and eight (8%) of 97 limbs without high ligation by 6 months (P = .273). New instances of reflux did not appear thereafter in 57 limbs followed to 12 months. Recurrent varicose veins occurred in three hi gh-ligation limbs and four limbs without high ligation by 6 months and in o ne additional high-ligation limb and two additional limbs without high liga tion by 12 months. Actuarial recurrence curves were not statistically diffe rent with or without SFJ ligation (P >.156), predicting greater than 90% fr eedom from recurrent reflux and varicosities at 1 year for both groups. Conclusion: These early results suggest that extended SFJ ligation may add little to effective GSV obliteration, but our finding are not sufficiently robust to warrant abandonment of SFJ ligation as currently practiced in the management of primary varicose veins associated with GSV vein reflux.