Venous function in the leg 20 years after ligation and partial resection of the popliteal vein.

Thirty-eight patients who had undergone resection of the popliteal vein for deep venous insufficiency 20 years previously were investigated with strain gauge plethysmography and venous pressure measurements. They also replied to a questionnaire. Venous symptoms of some kind were reported by 95% of the patients. The plethysmography and venous pressure measurements showed no restriction of antegrade or retrograde venous flow over the popliteal area. This presumably was attributable to the development of collaterals around the popliteal area, since most of the patients reported a favourable effect during the first postoperative years. The long-term results of popliteal vein resection thus are unsatisfactory.