Background: Definition of essential findings in chronic venous insufficiency without valvular incompetence of the greater and/or lesser saphenous vein and due to reflux in the system of the internal iliac vein.
Design: a retrospective study.
Setting: Section of Vascular Surgery in a University Hospital.
Patients: Five patients, all females, ages ranging from 24 to 62 years, (6 lower extremities) with internal iliac venous insufficiency syndrome were identified.
Interventions: Each case was assessed with clinical examination, Doppler CW and venography. Moreover, all cases were surgically treated using the technique of varicose vein avulsion.
Measures: Venographic picture and results of surgical treatment were evaluated.
Results: Reflux in the system of the internal iliac vein was demonstrated in all cases. Connections between this vein and subcutaneous varicose veins network were identified using venography. Surgical treatment has given good results in 5 lower extremities followed-up from 6 months to 3 years, while recurrent varicose veins were observed in 1 leg after 6 months.
Conclusions: Syndrome of internal iliac vein insufficiency requires more attention than in the past. As to diagnostic evaluation, venography (particularly varicography) plays an essential role. The best treatment is stab avulsion of varicose vein, if pelvic congestion syndrome is excluded.