Duplex sonographic evaluation of the sapheno-femoral venous junction in patients with recurrent varicose veins after surgical treatment.

PURPOSE: We used duplex sonography in patients with recurrent varicose veins after surgical treatment to detect any residual stump of the great saphenous vein at the sapheno-femoral venous junction, and we compared these sonographic findings with surgical findings as the "gold standard." METHODS: We prospectively studied 65 patients (54 women and 11 men) who had recurrent varicose veins 1-30 years (mean, 11 years) after surgical exploration of the groin and ligature of the great saphenous vein at its junction with the femoral vein. Duplex scans were performed in all patients before surgical reexploration. Sonographic findings were compared with surgical findings. RESULTS: Duplex scanning revealed a residual stump in 47 patients (72%) and no stump in 15 patients (23%). Thirty-five (74%) of the 47 cases with a residual stump had reflux on duplex scans, and the remaining 12 cases (26%) showed no reflux. Findings in all 62 of these cases were confirmed by surgery. In only 3 patients (5%) did duplex scans fail to show a residual stump when surgery revealed a small residual stump without reflux. CONCLUSIONS: Duplex scanning is the noninvasive diagnostic technique of choice to detect any residual stump of the great saphenous vein and to diagnose valve failure at the sapheno-femoral venous junction in patients with recurrent varicose veins.