Varicose vein stripping

Alternative Names: Vein stripping with ligation, avulsion, or ablation; Saphenous vein ligation

Vein stripping is surgery to remove varicose veins in the legs.

Description of Procedure

Varicose veins are swollen, painful veins that have filled with blood. They usually develop in the legs.

• Normally, valves in your veins keep your blood flowing forward, so the blood does not collect in one place.
• The valves in varicose veins are either damaged or missing. This causes the veins to become filled with blood, especially when you are standing.

Vein stripping is usually done when a large vein in the leg called the superficial saphenous vein is thick and rope-like.

Vein stripping usually takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Most people receive either:

• General anesthesia and will be asleep and unable to feel pain.
• Spinal anesthesia, which will make the lower half of your body feel numb. You may also get medicine to help you relax.

Your surgeon will make two small surgical cuts in your leg.

• The cuts will be near the top and bottom of your damaged vein. One will be in your groin. The other will be farther down your leg, either in your calf or ankle.
• Your surgeon will then thread a thin, flexible plastic wire into the vein through your groin and guide the wire through the vein toward the other cut farther down your leg.
• The wire is then tied to the vein and pulled out through the lower cut, which pulls the vein out with it.

If you have other damaged veins, your surgeon may also make small cuts over them to remove them or tie them off.

The doctor will close the cuts with stitches (sutures). You will have bandages and compression stockings on your leg after the procedure.

Risks of Varicose vein stripping

Vein stripping is usually safe. Ask your doctor about any problems that might occur.

The risks from any anesthesia include:

• Allergic reactions to medicines
• Breathing problems

The risks from any surgery include:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Infection

The risks from vein stripping include:

• Bruising or scarring
• Nerve injury
• Return of varicose veins over time

Circulatory system

Review Date: 5/6/2011
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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