Patterns of flow drainage from varicose veins originating in the incompetent great saphenous vein

BACKGROUND: Chronic venous insufficiency affects the lives of many people and therefore constitutes a public health problem. Knowledge of the drainage patterns of reflux from varicose veins secondary to incompetent saphenous veins is essential to define the best therapeutic management. OBJECTIVES: To determine the reflux drainage patterns from varicose veins originating in incompetent GSV, the prevalence of perforating veins (PV), and their relationships with symptoms. METHODS: 55 ultrasound reports were analyzed to determine the drainage patterns of reflux from the GSV, location and diameter of PV drainage, and staging of symptoms. RESULTS: In 64% of the sample, reflux from varicose veins drained to PVs, in 4% reflux drained to the GSV itself, in another 4% drainage was to the small saphenous vein, and in 29% drainage was to varicose trunk veins in which no direct communication with the deep system could be identified. No associations were observed between symptoms and reflux drainage patterns or PV diameters. CONCLUSIONS: For this sample, PVs were responsible for draining flow from varicose veins in 64% of cases. Neither PV diameters nor GSV reflux patterns were associated with severity of symptoms.