Recurrent residual or progressive varicose veins: postoperative long term follow-up of 353 patients.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative incidence of recurrent varicose veins (vv) and the possibility to differentiate the different types of recurrence.

Material Of Study: Patients who underwent surgery for saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) incompetence, great saphenous vein (GSV) varicosity and at least one perforator incompetence and varicosity of tributaries between January 1998 and December 2003 were selected for the study. Surgery consisted in SFJ flush ligation, GSV stripping, perforator vein ligature, and phlebectomies.