Objective: The aim was to evaluate how Doppler-derived information could be communicated in written form to surgeons before superficial vein surgery.
Patients and methods: The study included 78 patients with 102 limbs operated on for C2-4 superficial venous insufficiency. A vascular surgeon, in a vascular reference centre, preoperatively examined all patients with duplex ultrasound or hand-held Doppler and prepared a treatment plan accordingly. The plan was then sent to operative units. Patients were cohorted and operated on in two groups either with or without preoperative Doppler marking. At two years postoperatively, an independent examiner performed a follow-up duplex examination.
Results: Elimination of preoperatively identified axial reflux succeeded better in preoperatively marked than in non-marked group: axial reflux sites in saphenofemoral junction (SFJ), great saphenous vein (GSV), main branches of GSV or small saphenous vein (SSV) remained in five vs. 12 limbs (10 vs. 26%, P = 0.063). Overall, some axial reflux remained in 11 vs. 21 limbs (22 vs. 41%, P = 0.033).
Conclusion: Preoperative Doppler-derived information was not communicable in written form. Thus, it is important for the operating surgeon to do ultrasound-based preoperative marking allowing him to perform more accurate surgery.