Comparison of high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein combined with foam sclerotherapy versus conventional surgery for the treatment of superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity.

The aim of this study was to compare the results of high ligation and stripping of the great saphenous vein (GSV) trunk combined with foam sclerotherapy with conventional surgery for the treatment of superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity. One hundred and thirty eight patients with primary or secondary superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity were included. 60 underwent conventional surgery and 78 were treated with high ligation and stripping of the GSV trunk and foam sclerotherapy of GSV branches, spider veins, and reticular veins. Surgical time and amount of bleeding of single limb, recurrence of varicose vein, complications and patients satisfactory were recorded. Compared with the conventional surgery group, the GSV trunk stripping and foam sclerotherapy group had a significantly lower surgical time (P < 0.05), amount of bleeding and duration of hospital stays (P < 0.01). No statistically significant difference with respect to the wound infection, local discomfort, postoperative recurrence rates of varicosity and patients satisfaction score was observed (P > 0.05). GSV trunk stripping and foam sclerotherapy group at a 6 months of follow up had a higher recurrence rate of varicosity as compared to the conventional surgery group (P < 0.05). High ligation and GSV trunk stripping combined with foam sclerotherapy prior to conventional surgery for patients with superficial venous varicosities of the lower extremity with a shorter surgical time, fewer bleeding, duration of hospital stays and higher patients satisfactory scores.