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Introduction. The accumulated factual material about the topography of the great saphenous vein is extremely contradictory. Therefore, an individual approach is necessary to study the age-related anatomical variability of the large saphenous vein in human fetuses. The objective of the study was to determine the peculiarities of the saphenous vein topography in human fetuses of 4-10 months. Materials and methods. Studies of the variant anatomy of the great saphenous vein (GSV) were carried out on specimens of the lower limbs of 80 human fetuses of 81.0-375.0 mm parietal-coccygeal length using macro-microscopic dissection, vascular injection, surface staining of prepared vessels and nerves, radiography and morphometry. Results. GSV is a continuation of the medial marginal vein, which is directed upwards in the subcutaneous tissue along the anterior edge of the inner ankle in the studied human fetuses. On the lower leg, the GSV runs along the medial edge of the tibia and receives superficial veins from the anterior medial surface of the lower leg. The GSV bends around the back of the medial epicondyle of the femur in the knee area, is located outside the sartorial muscle, and passes to the anteromedial surface of the thigh. The GSV returns inward through the perforated fascia. In the saphenous opening area, it bends around the lower corner of the falciform margin of the saphenous opening, and it flows into the femoral vein (FV) from the anteromedial side. The anterior accessory saphenous vein flows into the femoral part of the GSV in 45% of cases. The posterior accessory saphenous vein is formed from the saphenous veins of the medial and posterior surfaces of the thigh. Conclusions. The anatomical variability of the great saphenous vein has been determined in human fetuses. The anterior accessory saphenous vein was detected in 71.3% of the studied fetuses, while the posterior accessory saphenous vein was found in 38.1% of cases. The great saphenous vein is characterized by the predominance of the transitional vein type (55.6% of cases) over the main (33.8% of cases) and loose (10.6%o cases) ones. The main type prevails over the loose type in the ratio of 3.2:1. The coincidence of the type of formation of a great saphenous vein on the right and left lower extremities was observed in 61.3% of fetuses. Significant gender differences in the typology of the great saphenous vein in human fetuses were not found.

Introduction: External pudendal artery is a collateral branch of the common femoral artery which is the primary blood supply to the penis or the clitoris. Its relationship with the venous arch of the great saphenous vein and its afferents in femoral triangle, are very narrow. This often entails injuries during crossectomy and great saphenous vein stripping. These lesions can cause sexual dysfunction. Methods: This study reports the case of a dissection of 22 inguinal regions in 13 men and 9 women who underwent surgical treatment of the femoral triangle. The distribution and the relationship between the external pudendal artery and the venous arch of the great saphenous vein are studied. Results: Single external pudendal artery is the most common. All external pudendal arteries originate from the common femoral artery. The most common type of relationship is between the sub-crossing of the venous arch of the great saphenous vein and a single external pudendal artery. Moreover, we recorded a precrossing, an alternate crossing and some relationship with the common femoral vein and the afferences of the venous arch of the great saphenous vein. Some surgical techniques expose more or less to external pudendal artery injury. Conclusion: This study confirms previous data but shows some peculiarities about the relationship between the venous arch of the great saphenous vein and external pudendal artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Great saphenous vein is one of the most used grafts in cardiovascular surgery. There is little amount of data in the medical literature describing dimensions of this vein. This series describes dimensions of the great saphenous vein in a coronary population and their variations. Patients and Methods: Retrospective series of patients admitted to the cardiovascular surgery department of Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital – Beirut, between January 2003 and June 2006 for elective coronary artery bypass grafting and having a preoperative Doppler ultrasound of the saphenous veins according to a standardized protocol. Great saphenous vein dimensions were analyzed with regard to patients'' characteristics using multivariable analysis of variance. Results: Four hundred and two subjects were included with a mean age 64.4±9.3 years and a mean body mass index 27.9±4.5 kg/m2. Women presented 22.6% of the series. Great saphenous vein dimensions'' variations according to gender were significant (Multivariate Pillay trace=0.001) below the knee. Dimensions'' variations were also significant as function of body mass index (P =0.001) and body surface (P =0.001). Age and cardiovascular risk factors did not influence GSV diameters. Conclusion: This series allowed constructing reference tables of the great saphenous vein segmental diameters in patients admitted for coronary artery surgery. Female sex is associated with lower segmental diameters below the knee and body mass index and body surface are linearly associated with segmental diameters at all levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Endovenous treatment for varicose veins of the lower extremities is an old technique. New technologies such as radiofrequency and laser have revived its indications. Thermal energy which is delivered to the vein wall results in a fibrous retraction and eventually complete obstruction of the vessel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]