Varicography in the management of recurrent varicose veins

Forty lower extremities in 29 patients with recurrent varicose veins have been investigated by varicography. In 29 lower extremities the recurrent varicosities were on the long saphenous venous system and in 11 lower extremities on the short saphenous system. The recurrences consisted of varicose segments or tributaries of the long or short saphenous veins, varicose tributaries at the sites of previous ligations of varicose veins, and varicosities associated with incompetent perforating veins in the midthigh and calf. It is suggested that varicography is a useful method for demonstrating the sites of recurrent varicose veins and for enabling definitive surgery to be performed.