Surgical repair of varicose veins of the lower limbs varicose veins by saphenous stripping.

For a long time, high ligation and stripping of the saphenous trunk was the only technique used to deal with primary varicose veins when surgical treatment was recommended. Duplex ultrasound has demonstrated that this attitude is not well-founded in many cases. Alternative techniques have been proposed and performed. Some of them have not been submitted to randomised and prospective studies. Others, particularly high ligation and stab avulsion of collaterals with preservation of the long saphenous trunk, have been evaluated. The author indicates in which cases high ligation + stripping of the saphenous trunk remains justified and in which situations it is not. All indications must be based on clinical examination and duplex ultrasound.