Sclerostripping--a "new" procedure for the treatment of varicose veins.

A "new" procedure for dealing with varicose veins associated with severe-to-moderate long saphenous vein incompetence is described. It consists of a combination of high ligation of the saphenofemoral junction and stripping of the long saphenous vein, with compression sclerotherapy of its tributaries and veins which are varicose because of incompetent perforators at the time of the operation. A series of 150 patients treated over a period of four years by this method is described. The safety, effectiveness, and advantages of the method over those of more orthodox surgery are discussed. It is suggested that it is safe, and more effective than more orthodox operations.