CROSSECTOMY AND FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY VERSUS SAPHENECTOMY AS TREATMENT FOR VARICOSE VEINS PRODUCED BY REFLUX AT THE SAPHENOFEMORAL

Introduction. Treatment of varicose vein disease resulting from reflux in the saphenofemoral junction has changed in recent years with the advent of novel, less traumatic techniques. In this study we outline one such technique and describe its advantages compared to other procedures currently in use. Patients and methods. We conducted a prospective, comparative study of a selected sample of 36 cases. Crossectomy and ethoxysclerol foam sclerotherapy were performed in 18 cases and the others were treated by means of a conventional saphenectomy. Results. For the technique reported here, average surgery time was 30 minutes. Average hospitalisation time was one day, with return to daily activities during the second week in all cases and a high rate of satisfaction (94.4%). No relapses were found during the 3 to 12-month followup period. One case of hyperpigmentation was reported as the only post-operative complication associated to the procedure. The benefits of this procedure over those obtained using conventional saphenectomy were proved by the lower rate of post-operative complications (5.5 versus 33.3%, p < 0.05). Conclusions. Foam sclerotherapy in the treatment of superficial venous insufficiency is a technique that has been shown to be effective. The technique proposed here, that is to say, crossectomy and foam sclerosis is a feasible technique, with a success rate comparable to that of saphenectomy. The fact that it offers the advantages of minimally invasive treatment without requiring high-cost equipment in the surgical area makes it more readily available for use in non-specialised centres.