[Surgical treatment of varices of the lower extremities (author's transl)]

In the last 6 years we have treated 132 patients with varices of the lower extremities and operated on 65 of them. We came to the following conclusions: 1. Stripping of the saphenous vein with subfascial ligature of the incompetent venae communicantes is essential for the complete treatment of primary varicosity with or without ulcer. 2. Pelvic phlebography is necessary to exclude secondary varicosities in both bilateral and unilateral varices. 3. The removal of secondary varices has a definitely negative result if recanalisation is incomplete; i.e. they ought not to be extirpated if the outflow from the great saphenous vein is directed centrally on walking.