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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Occlusion of the Great and Small Saphenous Vein Using Copolymeric Glue Based on N-Butyl Cyanoacrylate and Methacryloxy Sulfolane
Published on: December 9, 2022
Intersaphenous veins in a population with a high prevalence of chronic venous insufficiency
Michaela Veselá1, Gabriela Dostálová2, Aleš Linhart3
12nd Department of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Anatomy, Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Center for Endoscopic, Surgical and Clinical Anatomy (CESKA), Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Background:
Intersaphenous veins connect the great saphenous vein and the small saphenous vein. While the femoral intersaphenous vein (vein of Giacomini) is well known, evidence on crural intersaphenous veins remains limited. This study aimed to investigate intersaphenous veins in elderly internal medicine patients and compare the findings with previous data from healthy volunteers.
Methods:
In this single-centre study, 106 lower extremities were examined by ultrasound in internally ill patients with a median age of 68.0 years; 74.5% had chronic venous insufficiency. All detected intersaphenous veins were assessed for incidence, diameter, length, location, blood-flow direction, and valves.
Results:
The femoral intersaphenous vein was identified in 20% (21/106) of limbs, with a mean length of 25.30 cm and mean diameter of 2.72 mm. At least one crural intersaphenous vein was present in 94% (100/106). Two crural intersaphenous veins were found in 50.9% (54/106), three in 14% (15/106), four in 1.8% (2/106), and a plexiform variant in 1.8% (2/106). Mean length was 12.31 cm and mean diameter 2.04 mm. Blood flow was directed from the small saphenous vein to the great saphenous vein in 80.1% (137/171). Valves were rare in crural intersaphenous veins (7.6%, 13/171) and absent in femoral intersaphenous veins.
Conclusion:
Intersaphenous veins, especially crural intersaphenous veins, are highly prevalent in elderly patients. Given their diameter and length, they may represent a potential source of autologous venous grafts. Their possible role in reflux transmission warrants further investigation.
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