Objective: To assess three-year results following "CHIVA".
Design: Comparison between our results and data in the literature following stripping.
Setting: Phlebologic Surgery, 46 Datini Street, Florence, Italy.
Patients: 148 consecutive operated patients suffering from varicose veins (166 procedures).
Interventions: "CHIVA", as described by Franceschi and Bailly.
Main outcome measures: The presence of visible varicose veins, graded in three categories, according to Hobbs and Einarsson, as shown by clinical examination.
Results: Very good results were obtained in 100 cases, who presented without any finding of varicose veins throughout the follow-up. Of the remaining 66, in 1 case we found a new varicose network completely developed, whereas in 65 cases only some visible residual or recurrent vessels were present.
Conclusions: Significantly better results were observed in the CHIVA group compared with stripping groups (P < 0,001).