The Elastic Properties of the Human Great Saphenous Vein in Relation to Primary Varicose Veins

Simultaneous measurements of pressure and volume were made on nine great saphenous veins obtained at autopsies and nine great saphenous veins that were stripped during surgery from patients with primary varicose veins. Similar measurements were also made on six great saphenous veins obtained at autopsy before and after they were held at 100 cm H2O for 4 h. Circumferential tensions were calculated from Laplace's law (tension = pressure × radius).The great saphenous veins from patients with primary varicose veins had significantly greater radii and were more distensible than the normal great saphenous veins. After being held at 100 cm H2O for 4 h, the normal great saphenous veins became less distensible and their radii at distending pressures increased.Due to the great difference in radii, the circumferential tension on a great saphenous vein from a patient with primary varicose veins is much greater than that on a normal great saphenous vein at the same distending pressure. However, the physical stresses exerted on the great saphenous veins during the stripping operations may influence our results in some unknown way.