Influence of Preoperative Duplex Ultrasonography on the Operative Procedure for Primary Varicose Vein Surgery

Objective: To evaluate the impact of duplex ultrasonography on the treatment plan of patients with uncomplicated primary varicose veins. Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients (62 legs) with primary uncomplicated varicose veins were examined clinically and with hand-held Doppler (HHD) and duplex ultrasonography in an outpatient clinic on the same day. The plans for subsequent treatment were recorded separately after the two ultrasound examinations. Results: The accuracy of the HHD examination was 0.71 in the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) and long saphenous vein (LSV trunk). In fifty-six limbs (90%) duplex scanning did not affect the surgical treatment of the patients. Conclusions: Most operations on primary varicose veins can be performed on the basis of clinical and HHD examinations by an experienced surgeon. Duplex ultrasonography can be used selectively in the patients with suspected saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ) reflux or equivocal HHD findings.