Long term results of subfascial vein ligation for venous stasis disease

One hundred and nine patients underwent subfascial venous ligation for symptoms of severe venous stasis disease for an 18 year period. Long term follow-up study, with an average length of ten years, was obtained in 83 of these patients. Twenty-seven patients reported a recurrence of stasis ulceration during this period, and 19 patients required further operations to correct some aspect of the venous disease. Results of our experience suggest that subfascial venous ligation be considered for all patients with confirmed perforating venous incompetence, but the procedure should be regarded only as a palliative measure in patients with severe venous stasis disease.