Surgical correction of main stem reflux in the superficial venous system: does it improve the blood flow of incompetent perforating veins?

Fifty-seven limbs (33 patients) with chronic venous ulceration were selected for this study. The criterion for selection was the presence of isolated superficial venous reflux. Long saphenous vein reflux alone was observed in 39 (68.4%) limbs, short saphenous vein reflux alone in 4 (7.0%) limbs, and both long and short saphenous vein reflux in 14 (24.6%) limbs. Surgical correction of the refluxing saphenous system has allowed 46 (80.7%) ulcers to heal. The healing rates for all the ulcerated legs that had long saphenous vein reflux, short saphenous vein reflux, or a combination of the two were 85.4%, 75.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Incompetent perforating veins (IPVs) were observed in 51 (89.5%) limbs; 74.5% of them regained their competence postoperatively (189 preoperatively vs. 59 postoperatively; p < 0.001), with a significant reduction in their mean diameter (p < 0.001). IPVs remained in 13 (25.5%) limbs: 3 limbs with persistent reflux in the tributaries of the saphenous system, 1 limb with a fixed ankle joint, and nine limbs with no evidence of macrovascular venous disease. In patients with a competent deep venous system, reflux in perforating veins is often abolished after eradication of saphenous reflux.