An incompetent saphenous vein may be obliterated by various means. Retrograde injection with sclerosing solutions was originally believed to be a simple and hazardless procedure.1 Boyd3 has shown that radiopaque contrast medium with the sclerosing agent, injected into superficial varices, enters rapidly into the deep venous system, where it probably has a deleterious effect. For this reason we have believed the injection of massive amounts, 5 cc. or more, of sclerosing agents should be abandoned.
Abraham4 reported upon the use of a silk thread introduced into the lumen of the saphenous vein to cause thrombosis and ultimate obliteration of the vein. This is a report of further experience with similar techniques.
METHOD
The entire limb is cleansed and prepared for surgery with a hexachlorophene (pHisoHex) scrub the evening before and just prior to surgery. The skin incision and high saphenous ligation are done after the method