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Preoperative Assessment of Small Saphenous-Type Varicose Veins by Three-Dimensional CT Venography with Dual-Route Injection
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iDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Higashi-Hiroshima Medical Center, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kochi Medical School Hospital, Nankoku, Japan, Department of Thorac-Cardiovascular Surgery, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan, and Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japanj
| Katsutoshi Sato |
Kazumasa Orihashi |
Satoru Morita |
| Kenji Okada |
Norimasa Mitsui |
Katsuhiko Imai |
| Naomichi Uchida |
Taijiro Sueda |
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The saphenopopliteal junctioniSPJjis found at various levels and has various patterns compared with the saphenofemoral junction. Although this can cause difficulty in the surgical treatment of varicose veins and affect the outcome, there have been few reports on preoperative assessment of the small saphenous veiniSSVjregarding this point. This study was undertaken to evaluate three-dimensional CT venography with dual-route injection for the preoperative assessment of a small saphenous-type varicose vein. We examined a total of 15 legs in 15 patients with a small saphenous-type varicose vein, which were preoperatively evaluated by CT venography and then surgically treated. The patients included 4 men and 11 women with ages ranging from 50 to 80 years oldimean age, 66 years). The grading of varicose veins according to the CEAP classification was C2, C3, C4, and C5 in 3, 4, 6 and 2 legs, respectively. The CT imaging was performed with contrast medium diluted ten-fold, which was injected into the great and small saphenous veins simultaneously. CT venography clearly visualized the lower extremity veins. Whereas the popliteal vein coursed deep above the level of the femoral intercondylar groove, it followed a shallow course below the level of the knee joint. In 11 legsi74%), the SPJ was located in the shallow portion, whereas it was in the deep portion in 4 legsi26%). Among the former group, the SSV was connected to the great saphenous vein via the Giacomini vein in 2 cases, and the gastrocnemius vein was connected to the SSV before the SPJ in 3 cases. Among the latter group, a localized large venous aneurysm with thrombus before its termination was found in one case. In another case, the SSV showed branched termination in the deep portion. Our three-dimensional CT venography with dual-route injection provides more accurate information on venous anatomy in the lower extremity. The accuracy of images acquired by CT venography with dual-route injection was verified by intraoperative findings. Although Doppler ultrasound is essential for examining the presence of regurgitation in the veins and locating the course of a varicose vein in the surgical field, all 15 cases had scheduled surgery under local anesthesia based on accurate preoperative diagnosis. This study suggests that CT venography with dual-route injection is beneficial in preventing undesired complications during surgery and avoiding additional procedures for recurrent varicose veins.
Jpn. J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 42:384-390i2013j
KeywordsFCT venography, small saphenous vein, saphenopopliteal junction
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