Clinical Experiences of Transilluminated Powered Phlebectomy in Varicose Vein

Cho, Kwang Jo

Abstract

PURPOSE: The removal of varicose vein using a minimally invasive, transilluminated vein-extracting device (TriVex system) with cutaneous transillumination and tumescent anesthesia technique was newly developed and became popular in USA. This study was performed to evaluate its efficacy and safety. METHOD: The author performed TIPP (Transilluminated powered phlebectomy) procedure in 90 patients 118 legs from Feb 2001 to March 2002. The patients were 26 men and 64 women and their age ranged in from 19 to 65 (46.3 +/- 10.7) years. The preoperative evaluation was performed with Dupplex Doppler ulatrasound scan. All patients were admitted before the day of the surgery and discharged on the day or the next day of the surgery. The operation was performed under spinal or general anesthesia. The greater saphenous vein was ligated and in the saphenofemoral junction and stripped out to the knee with stripper under inguinal incision and then the varicose vein was removed with TriVex system. After the operation the patients were discharged at the day of the surgery and followed up at OPD for an average of 43 16 days. RESULT: The mean operative time was 61.6 +/- 25.7 min, the average numbers of small incision per leg were 3.4 +/- 1.3, and the average admission period was 1.6 +/- 0.8 days. These data were far different from those of conventional varicosectomy in previous periods. There were 2 cases of subcutaneous infection at medial calf and one case of remnant varicsoe vein which need reoperation with the TIPP. There was no permanent complication like paresthesia or skin changes. The pain and cosmetic outcome were so excellent that all patient had no limitation in daily life in a week after the procedures.
CONCLUSION
The transilluminated powered phlebectomy in varicose vein is safe, efficacious and cosmetically satisfactory.