Sciatic venous drainage demonstrated by varicography in patients with a patent deep venous system

Varicography, consisting of direct puncture and injection into a varicosity, is the diagnostic procedure of choice in the assessment of varicose veins of the lower limbs. It must be performed in cases of recurrent posterior varicose veins of the leg, after negative ascending phlebography, when looking for possible drainage by a sciatic venous pathway. A series of 7 patients with such sciatic venous drainage is presented. Although infrequent, sciatic venous pathways may explain recurrent varicose veins and alter therapy.