Clinical and lymphanglographic studies of early postoperative oedema following stripping operation of the long saphenous vein

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate the possibility of lymphatic disruption occuring during varicose vein surgery, this study was carried out on 20 patients presented with primary varicosity of the long saphenous vein. All of them were candidates for ligation and stripping operation. Lymphangiography for the affected limbs were performed before and after operative interference. All patients were males with a mean age 32 years. Oedema was more than 2 cm in 4 patients and less than 2 cm in 16 patients. Oedema subsided completely by the 4th week postoperatively. Postoperative lymphangiography showed much disruption in 4 patients in whom oedema was moderate and mild disruption in 10 patients, it also showed insignificant changes in 4 patients and the procedure failed in 2 patients, Lymphatic disruption was more around the knee joint. Two patients developed haematoma formation. Sepsis complicated a wound of one patient. It was concluded that lymphatic disruption attending varicose vein removal contributes to post operative leg oedema