Which Vein Stripper,Metal or Plastic Disposable?

Abstract

When stripping the long saphenous vein it is recommended that the stripper be passed from the groin downwards. If the stripper is passed from below the knee upwards, there is a possibility of it entering the deep veins. Cases are recorded of the consequent, inadvertent, stripping of the deep veins. Plastic ‘single use’ disposable strippers may be easier to handle than metal strippers and perhaps easier to pass against the valves.

A prospective randomized trial was carried out in 80 limbs to compare the performance of plastic and metal strippers. In 37 of 40 limbs the metal stripper could be passed from the groin to below the knee and in 36 of 40 limbs the plastic stripper could also be passed in this way. Hence a stripper could be passed downwards in 73 of 80 (91%) limbs. However, the plastic strippers passed more quickly to below the knee, in a mean time of 24 s compared with 36 s for the metal strippers (Wilcoxon's test, P = 0.03). Against this is the cost of £8.00 for a pair of plastic disposable strippers.