The Evaluation of the Saphenofemoral Junction after Endovenous Laser Treatment for Varicose Veins and Its Clinical Significance

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the anatomy of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) after endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) with using a duplex scan and to assess its clinical significance. METHODS: Thirty two limbs of 26 patients who underwent EVLT between 2004 and 2006 were examined with duplex ultrasound scanning. The mean follow-up time was 25.9 months. We evaluate the presence of reflux, the patency of the proximal great saphenous vein and the number of the remaining patent tributary veins. RESULTS: The occlusion of the SFJ was classified into four categories 1) complete obstruction in 7 (21.9%), 2) complete obstruction with only one patent tributary vein in 6 (18.8%), 3) near complete obstruction (the patent length of the greater saphenous vein 5 cm) in 1 case. A patent SFJ with one or more intact tributaries was present in 25 (78.1%) limbs. However, there was no reflux in all the cases. CONCLUSION: EVLT is an effective and minimally invasive treatment for varicose veins. Although the SFJ tributaries and the patency of the proximal great saphenous vein after endovenous laser treatment were present, there was no reflux or recurrence of varicose veins.

The Anatomic Figure of Saphenofemoral Junction in Primary Varicose Vein

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to measure the diameter of saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) by using duplex scan and to assess the different anatomic characteristics of SFJ according to the clinical manifestation. METHODS: 100 Limbs of 77 patients with varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein (GSV) were assessed prospectively about sex, symptom, disease duration, morphology of varicose vein. The diameter of GSV (GSVD), SFJ, femoral vein (FVD) and the ratio of each value-GSV/FV (GFDR) and SFJ/FV (JFDR)-were measured by color-flow duplex scanning. Findings were compared with clinically normal 20 control limbs. RESULTS: The mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR in patients group were different from that of control group with statistical significance except FVD. There were statistically significant differences in the mean value of GSVD, FVD, GFDR, JFDR between men and women. The mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR between symptomatic and asymptomatic group were not different statistically. The result of comparison according to the disease duration showed statistically significant difference, which the more duration of disease were longer, the more the mean value of SFJ were increased. In comparison of the findings according to the morphologic classification, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean value of GSVD, FVD, SFJ, GFDR, JFDR. CONCLUSION: Dilatation of SFJ may be related to the cause of varicose veins from the result that the mean value of SFJ was more increased in patients group than control group.