Title and Copyright:
Saphenous Vein Stripping, ©1999.

Media:
Pen and ink.

Collaborator:
John Bergan, MD; Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego.

Description:
(A) Illustration of the saphenous vein at the saphenofemoral junction with the principal tributaries. (B) Exposure of the saphenous vein through an incision. (C) Traction on the saphenofemoral junction tributary veins allows long segments of these veins to be brought into the surgical incision. The secondary and even tertiary tributaries are electrocoagulated with Bovie cautery. (D) After each of the tributaries to the saphenous vein are divided, the saphenous vein is ligated flush with the femoral junction. The saphenous vein itself can be cannulated with the intraluminal disposable stripper. A ligature at the base of the transected saphenous vein will fix the vein to the stripper and prepare it for inversion stripping. (E) The stripper is inserted into the saphenous vein from above, a tie is placed around both vein and stripper and distal traction inverts the vein into itself. The stripper is retrieved at about knee level at the first competent valve.

Published as:
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.

Association of Medical Illustrators Salon. Rochester, Minnesota. July 12-15, 2000.

 
     
©1999 William Walsh, All Rights Reserved.