Long-segment hypoplasia of great saphenous vein with posterior accessory saphenous vein as a connecting vein: a case report

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In general, the great saphenous vein (GSV) starts with medial marginal vein at the ankle, passes through saphenous compartment, and ends at the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) [1]. The vein running out of the saphenous compartment is classified as accessory vein or tributary vein [2]. Usually, the diameter of GSV increases from feet to the groin area [2]. If the diameter of the GSV becomes smaller or diminished, it is called as GSV hypoplasia or aplasia [1, 3]. Most of them is a segmental condition localized to a part of the GSV and has vein that connect the start and end points of the hypoplastic or aplastic segment [3]. This connecting vein usually travels outside the saphenous compartment. However, there were reports of hypoplasia extended up to the groin rather than a segmental condition located around the knee. Even in these cases, most of them has anterior accessory saphenous vein (AASV) as a connecting vein [3, 4]. The purpose of this study is to report a case of long-segment hypoplasia of GSV with posterior ASV (PASV) as a connecting vein.

CASE REPORT

A 22-year-old male patient visited the clinic complaining dull pain and heaviness in the right calf that had lasted for about 5 months. The symptoms tended to be more severe in the afternoon than in the morning. He had no medical history or family history of varicose vein. Upon physical examination, dilated tributary veins were observed at the posterior aspect of right calf but edema of the leg was not observed (Fig. 1). Therefore, the revised venous clinical severity score (VCSS) was 4 [5]. For diagnosis, duplex ultrasonography was performed (Fig. 2). Normal GSV without reflux was observed in the saphenous compartment of left lower limb. On right lower limb, GSV became hypoplastic about 3 cm below the SFJ. The PASV connected the normal GSV 3 cm distal to the SFJ and normal GSV below the knee. Significant reflux (reverse flow lasting more than 0.5 s) was observed throughout the whole length of PASV and GSV in the proximal part of the hypoplastic segment [6]. The tributary vein joined about 1.5 cm below the area where PASV and normal GSV below the knee were connected. No reflux was observed in the normal GSV below the knee. Under local anesthesia with tumescent solution, high ligation of GSV and stripping of PASV and GSV proximal to hypoplastic segment were performed. For dilated tributary vein at the posterior calf, ambulatory phlebectomy was performed. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. He had follow-ups at 1, 3 and 6 months after the surgery. The symptoms before the surgery were improved after the surgery, and final revised VCSS was 1.

Figure 1:

Photograph of posterior accessory saphenous vein (arrow) and its tributary (arrow head).

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Figure 2:

Schema of the right limb veins and findings of duplex ultrasonography. Dotted gray line represents the hypoplastic segment of the GSV and solid blue line represents the posterior accessory saphenous vein.

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DISCUSSION

Aplasia or hypoplasia of GSV is known to be found in about 12~39.9% of general population and they are unilateral in general [2, 3, 7]. According to reports, aplasia or hypoplasia of GSV is more commonly observed in patient with varicose vein than without varicose vein [1, 2]. While these are common conditions, the etiology is not clearly identified. The reason for more frequent reflux in these patients is thought to be because the connecting vein (accessory saphenous vein) has thin wall and poor muscle composition compared to GSV [7], and it's surrounded solely by subcutaneous fat without supporting structures such as saphenous fascia of GSV which can prevent vasodilation [3].

Since normal GSV is located inside the saphenous compartment, it is easily detected using ultrasonography. Likewise, aplasia, hypoplasia or connecting veins can be detected using ultrasonography. Most of these connecting veins are located adjacent to the skin [2]. Endothermal ablation which is the standard treatment for varicose vein [8] has a risk of thermal injury to the skin and cannot be easily performed for connecting vein [2]. In our case, we used high ligation and inversion stripping instead of endothermal ablation to prevent thermal injury of the skin.

Aplasia or hypoplasia of GSV is uncommon at proximal or distal GSV, and usually segmental around the knee [2, 3]. In most cases, aplasia or hypoplasia starts from the upper calf to the lower thigh (92.8%). However, a few cases of hypoplasia continuing to inguinal region (2.4%) with AASV as connecting vein are reported [2]. But the AASV is known to be located slightly lateral to the GSV and aligned with femoral vessel [9]. In our case, long-segment hypoplasia of GSV was detoured from the lower part of popliteal crease to groin through PASV which is located medial to the GSV and femoral vessel, and this case is rarely reported.

There are large variations in forms and range of hypoplasia or aplasia of GSV. Therefore accurate preoperative ultrasound examination of the anatomy of the GSV and its tributaries is necessary. In this report, the author discussed a rare case of long-segment hypoplasia of GSV with PASV as a connecting vein.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

FUNDING

The authors have no sources of funding to declare.

ETHICAL APPROVAL

This study received approval from IRB at KoNIBP.

INFORMED CONSENT

The authors confirmed that written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images.

REFERENCES

Author notes