OBJECTIVES: Stripping varicose veins can cause invalidating durable dysaesthesia in 25% of the cases due to saphenous vein damage. Postoperative varicosis is also frequently encountered. Cicatrization may be inaesthetic at the ankle and the operation may even be impossible due to infected ulcerations. Alternative methods are therefore needed. Cryosurgery using a freezing probe can be used to remove the entire saphenous vein via the inguinal incision alone. METHODS: Over a 6 year period, 2,009 patients (3,811 members) underwent cryosurgery for varicose veins. The indication in 88% of the cases was based on functional or aesthetic reasons and in 7% hypodermitis, in 3% ulcerations resistant to medical treatment and in 2% superficial venous thrombosis. RESULTS: Postoperatively, a single case of sural phlebitis was observed (0.02%). Dysaesthesia occurred in the saphenous nerve territory in 2% of the cases and resolved in a few months. Functional signs present preoperatively had disappeared within one month of surgery in 98%. The aesthetic result was excellent since there is no scar tissue on the limb excepting the inguinal incision and since postoperative varicosis was rare (0.1%). All varicose ulcerations had healed in less than 3 months of surgery and no case of deep vein failure was observed. CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery for varicose veins is as effective as the stripping procedure and avoids certain complications. The aesthetic result and functional results are better. Cryosurgery is an important progress in the treatment of varicose veins of the lower limbs, especially in case of ulcerations.
OBJECTIVES: Stripping varicose veins can cause invalidating durable dysaesthesia in 25% of the cases due to saphenous vein damage. Postoperative varicosis is also frequently encountered. Cicatrization may be inaesthetic at the ankle and the operation may even be impossible due to infected ulcerations. Alternative methods are therefore needed. Cryosurgery using a freezing probe can be used to remove the entire saphenous vein via the inguinal incision alone. METHODS: Over a 6 year period, 2,009 patients (3,811 members) underwent cryosurgery for varicose veins. The indication in 88% of the cases was based on functional or aesthetic reasons and in 7% hypodermitis, in 3% ulcerations resistant to medical treatment and in 2% superficial venous thrombosis. RESULTS: Postoperatively, a single case of sural phlebitis was observed (0.02%). Dysaesthesia occurred in the saphenous nerve territory in 2% of the cases and resolved in a few months. Functional signs present preoperatively had disappeared within one month of surgery in 98%. The aesthetic result was excellent since there is no scar tissue on the limb excepting the inguinal incision and since postoperative varicosis was rare (0.1%). All varicose ulcerations had healed in less than 3 months of surgery and no case of deep vein failure was observed. CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery for varicose veins is as effective as the stripping procedure and avoids certain complications. The aesthetic result and functional results are better. Cryosurgery is an important progress in the treatment of varicose veins of the lower limbs, especially in case of ulcerations.