Abstract
Objective: To describe the use of a novel soft trocar to perform subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS) in patients with varicose veins in the lower leg.
Procedures: From January 1999 through March 2001, SEPS was performed in 14 patients (17 legs) with primary varicose veins (clinical classes 3-6) by using a soft trocar. The soft trocar is a Y-shaped polyvinyl chloride bag with two ports at one end and a flexible, sealing ring at the opposite end. The subfascial space was dissected with an endoscopic dissection cannula and expanded with a balloon. Carbon dioxide gas insufflation was applied, and the perforating veins were divided by using UltraShears inserted simultaneously with an endoscope through the second port of the trocar.
Results: A mean of 4.7 ± 2.9 perforating veins per leg were divided. No wound complications occurred.
Conclusion: Use of the soft trocar facilitates both visualization and manipulation during SEPS.
Keywords
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