[Clinical anatomy of collateral varicose veins (essential varicose veins of the legs)].

Performance of ambulatory phlebectomies has greatly enhanced the anatomo-clinical description of collateral varicosities (CV), permitting a better understanding of their physio-pathological role, and acknowledging, in some instances, their true autonomy. Physio-pathological role:--Reflux transfer--The function of CV is not limited to a mere acknowledgment (vector function) of the refluxes from the long pathological axes on which they branch. This function also consists in ensuring the diversion (transfer function) from one territory to another.--Pathology transfer--This reflux transfer is sometimes accompanied with a pathology transfer in the new territory (pathology steals). Anatomo-clinical description:--Supra-limb collaterals--These are CV with a parieto-abdominal course and pelvic CV, developed below the origin of the limb.--Proximity collaterals--These are "ladder-shaped" collaterals with oblique bars!, uniting adjacent long axes.--Inter-axial collaterals--These are crural, tibial of cruro-tibial CV, uniting distant long axes and providing junctions between medial and lateral saphenous veins, lateral and medial saphenous veins, saphenous veins-peroneal axis... Situations of autonomy: Independence regarding long axes, is demonstrated by the autonomous nature of the original reflux and affects, more especially: the antero-lateral crural slings, the lateral pudental vessels, the popliteal veins. The treatment of collateral varicosities involves surgery, ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerosis with could be implemented separately or concomitantly.