Abstract
Femoral and popliteal vein injury during great saphenous vein stripping in a young woman
Department of Vascular Surgery and Angiology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Bielanski Hospital, Warsaw, Poland
Phlebological Review 2025; 33, 1: 26–30
Deep venous injury is a rare but serious complication of conventional varicose vein surgery. Although endovenous procedures currently predominate in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, surgeons should remain aware of potentially devastating complications associated with open surgery. In the paper the case of the severe vascular complication related to the great saphenous vein (GSV) stripping was described. A 34-year-old woman underwent right GSV stripping at a one-day surgery center. In the immediate postoperative period, she developed severe pain, sensory disturbance, massive swelling of the limb, and foot paresis. After transfer to a vascular surgery department, imaging and intraoperative findings revealed disruption of the femoral vein and rupture of the popliteal vein. Reconstruction was performed using a femoro-popliteal PTFE graft, followed by fasciotomy, thrombectomy, negative-pressure wound therapy, skin grafting, and prolonged rehabilitation. Despite successful early reconstruction, the patient developed chronic neurological sequelae, including persistent foot drop and neuropathic pain. Deep venous injuries during saphenous vein stripping are exceptionally uncommon but may result in severe long-term disability. Early recognition and urgent reconstructive treatment are critical determinants of outcome. This case highlights the need for continued vigilance during conventional varicose vein surgery, regardless of surgeon’s experience.
Keywords
femoral vein injury, popliteal vein injury, great saphenous vein stripping, varicose vein surgery, venous reconstruction