Source: Phlebologie  |  Posted 9 years ago

Phlebosurgery combined with the tumescent technique for varicose veins of the greater saphenous vein and collatoral vessels appears to be effective, low risk and cost-effective.

Dr. Christina Rogalski and colleagues from the Klinik und Poliklinik fur Hautkrankheiten Universitatsklinikum Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany, evaluated use of the tumescent technique in 102 patients seen at the hospital between December 1998 and February 2002.

The anaesthetic effect of stretching the tissue is combined with the effect of the local anaesthetic (prilocaine solution with epinephrine 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent).

Overall, the researchers evaluated 90 inguinal phlebectomies, 74 strippings of the long saphenous vein, 91 exereses of collateral vessels and 49 ligations of the perforating veins.

Post-operative complications included a secondary haemorrhage and three seroma, which had to be punctured. In addition to these, there was one wound infection and a wound dehiscence.

There were no allergies or thrombosis (91.1 percent of the patients received prophylaxis with low molecular heparin).

Thus, phlebosurgery in combination with the tumescent technique provides a cost-effective alternative with a low rate of risks and complications.