Randomized clinical trial of routine preoperative duplex imaging before varicose vein surgery.

BACKGROUND

Duplex imaging is used increasingly for preoperative evaluation of varicose veins, but its value in terms of the long-term results of surgery is not clear.

METHODS

Patients with primary varicose veins were randomized to operation with or without preoperative duplex imaging. Reoperation rates, clinical and duplex findings were compared at 2 months and 2 years after surgery.

RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-three patients (343 legs) had varicose vein surgery after duplex imaging (group 1; 166 legs) or no imaging (group 2; 177 legs). In 44 legs (26.5 per cent), duplex examination suggested a different surgical procedure than had been considered on clinical grounds; the procedure was changed accordingly for 29 legs. At 2 months, incompetence was detected at the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction (or both) in 14 legs (8.8 per cent) in group 1 and in 44 legs (26.5 per cent) in group 2 (P < 0.001). At 2 years, two legs (1.4 per cent) had undergone or were awaiting reoperation in group 1, and 14 legs (9.5 per cent) in group 2 (P = 0.002). In the remainder, major incompetence was found in 19 legs (15.0 per cent) in group 1 and in 53 (41.1 per cent) in group 2 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Routine preoperative duplex examination led to an improvement in results 2 years after surgery for patients with primary varicose veins.