Surgical Treatment of Varicose Vein - TIPP(Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy

Lee, Kyo Joon; Kim, Hae Kyoon; Joung, Eun Kyu; Kang, Doo Young

Abstract

The present study was done to determine the efficacy and safety of varicose vein removal using a minimally invasive, powered vein-extracting device with cutaneous transillumination and tumescent anesthesia techniques and then compared this to a retrospective group of conventional phlebectomy operations. There were 133 limbs in 104 patients(72 women, 32 men) treated with the use of the vein extractor aided by transcutaneous illumination. The hydrodissection was performed with TrivexTM Irrigated Illuminator(Smith and Nephew ) system using normal saline after the 2~3mm sized skin incision. Varicose clusters were extracted by the use of TrivexTM Resector(Smith and Nephew ) system under transillumination. After the varisoce vein extraction, the operation area was compressed with surgical pad for bleeding control. The complication rate was 3.84%. The mean number of incisions was 3.24 and mean operative time per limb was 65.9 minutes. The mean hospitalization was 1.86 days. The varicose vein extraction using transilluminated powered phlebectomy(TIPP) is a safe, efficacious and cosmetically satisfactory method. The procedure decreases the operating time and the number of incisions repuired to remove varicose clusters. Further evaluation and long term follow up will be necessary to determine the recurrence rate and long term complications.