The top illustration shows the normal anatomy at the sapheo-femoral junction. The next illustration depicts this same anatomy through the incision. Secondary tributaries of the saphenous vein are pulled into the surgical field and ligated. With the saphenous ligated at the femoral vein, a wire stripper is threaded through the saphenous vein and sutured shut with the head of the wire stripper exposed. As the wire is pulled distally, the vein is inverted and slowly pulled out in its entirety through the incision in the medial knee area. Pen and ink illustration. For John Bergan, MD; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego. The Saphenous Anatomy Illustration was remade for James Chandler, MD; Department of Surgery, University of Colorado; Boulder, Colorado. Published as: Bergan JJ. Stripping of the Saphenous Vein. In: Handbook of Venous Surgery. Landes Bioscience, Georgetown (in press). Bergan JJ. Saphenous Vein Stripping by Inversion: Current Technique. Surgical Rounds 2000; 23: 118-124. Gloviczki P, Bergan JJ, Harris Jr EJ. Current Management of Peripheral Venous Insufficiency. Contemporary Surgery 2000; 56: 242-256. Publications Exhibited in: Association of Medical Illustrators Salon. Rochester, Minnesota. July 12-15, 2000. Exhibits The Saphenous Anatomy Illustration was remade using Photoshop 5.5 for James Chandler, MD; Department of Surgery, University of Colorado; Boulder, Colorado. Published as: Chandler JG, Pichot O, Sessa C, Schuller-Petrovi S, Osse FJ and Bergan JJ. Defining the Role of Extended Sapheno-Femoral Junction Ligation: A Prospective Comparative Study Journal of Vascular Surgery 2000; 32: 941-953. Publications © 1999, Bill Walsh.