[Perforating veins]

The role of the perforating veins in the physiopathology and treatment of varicose disorder and of post-phlebitic syndromes is the subject of this study, based on the results of 5 000 observations of surgery of the veins in the lower limbs. Neglect of the perforators is responsible for a sizeable percentage of relapse after the simple stripping of the saphenous axes. In post-phlebitic syndrome and, more particularly, in trophic disorders, they play a major part, and ought to be the object of thorough investigation, using clinical examination, the Doppler and phlebography.