Recurrent varicose vein. Surgical procedure - results

We report 96 patients (107 legs) with recurrence after varicose vein surger y. We define a recurrent varicose vein as a new transfascial insufficiency after incomplete interruption of the saphenofemoral as well as popliteal ju nction with reflux in the epifascial venous system. 92 patients underwent e xternal primary surgery. Morphologically an insufficient high ligation of t he V. saphena magna (Moszkowicz's operation) led in 30 cases to a recurrent varicose vein. In 47 cases an incomplete isolated, in 29 cases an incomple te saphenofemoral ligation during a Babcock procedure and in one case an in complete saphenopopliteal ligation for V. saphena parva insufficiency were the reasons for the recurrence. As recurrent surgery we performed 106 ligat ions of the saphenofemoral junction. In 38 of these cases an isolated saphe nofemoral ligation and in 68 cases an additional stage-adjusted ligation of the V. saphena magna were carried out. In one case of recurrent saphenopop liteal insufficiency a repeated ligation of the V. saphena parva was perfor med. The recurrence is an avoidable complication of a not perfect primary s urgery. The main cause is an inadaequate access with incomplete saphenofemo ral or -popliteal ligation.