Ambulatory Ligation of the Saphenous Vein

Ligation of the saphenous vein, frequently referred to as the Trendelenburg operation, 1 has been recommended for the treatment of varicose veins. It was based on the principle that reflux of blood into the saphenous vein could be stopped with a simple high ligature. Uncertain results and recurrence 2 in a high proportion of cases (from 22 to 72 per cent) led to the adoption of more radical methods, such as stripping, multiple ligatures and radical excision. The simple ligation has fallen into discard except when combined with more radical procedures. The injection treatment of varicose veins, described in previous communications, 3 has aroused interest in ambulatory forms of treatment. As described in my previous work, the ligation of the saphenous vein has been combined with the injection treatment in a certain group of cases. Tavel 4 and Schiassi, 4 using phenol and compound solution of iodine in the early