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Effect of Obesity and Bariatric Surgery on Saphenous Veins

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Abstract

Purpose

Obesity is a risk factor for chronic venous disease (CVD) of the lower limbs (LL), affecting venous anatomy and physiology. Weight loss after bariatric surgery (BS) can reduce intra-abdominal pressure, improve mobility, and ultimately improve venous hemodynamics and CVD-related symptoms. There are no studies in the literature that adequately assess the effect of the obesity and BS on the LL veins, especially the saphenous veins (SV). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of obesity and BS on the saphenous veins.

Methods

This is a longitudinal prospective study carried out from 2019 to 2021 with 19 patients, totaling 38 LL, underwent clinical evaluation (CEAP Classification) and by Doppler ultrasonography, to analyze their SV diameter and reflux measurements, in the preoperative period and again 6 months to 2 years after BS being performed.

Results

There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding the characteristics of reflux in the SV among the evaluated LL. There was no significant increase in the diameter of the great SV in the majority of its segments. The groups were similar in terms of the small SV diameters. Moreover, a significant reduction in the clinical class of CEAP was observed after BS.

Conclusion

Obesity and bariatric surgery had no influence on diameter or reflux in saphenous veins, but a reduction in the CEAP Clinical Classification was observed in the postoperative period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas/EBSER-UFPE, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP, 50670-901, Brazil

    Wendell Ricardo de Medeiros Alves Fernandes, Gabriela de Oliveira Buril & Rebecca Paes de Andrade Souza Caldas

  2. Department of Surgery, CCM – UFPE, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP, 50670-901, Brazil

    Esdras Marques Lins, Fernanda Appolônio Rocha & Álvaro Antônio Bandeira Ferraz

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, CCM – UFPE, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 1235 - Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP, 50670-901, Brazil

    Emmanuelle Tenório Albuquerque Godoi Berenguer de Barros e Silva

  4. Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde. Av. Mal. Mascarenhas de Morais, 4861 - Imbiribeira, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP, 51150-000, Brazil

    Filipe de Souza Leão Câmara

Authors
  1. Wendell Ricardo de Medeiros Alves Fernandes
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  2. Esdras Marques Lins
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  3. Fernanda Appolônio Rocha
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  4. Gabriela de Oliveira Buril
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  5. Emmanuelle Tenório Albuquerque Godoi Berenguer de Barros e Silva
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  6. Rebecca Paes de Andrade Souza Caldas
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  7. Filipe de Souza Leão Câmara
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  8. Álvaro Antônio Bandeira Ferraz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esdras Marques Lins.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Key points

• There are still no studies that adequately assess the influence of obesity and weight loss after bariatric surgery on the flow pattern and diameter of saphenous veins.

• Obesity and bariatric surgery did not influence the diameter and reflux in the saphenous veins in the current study.

• A significant reduction in the symptoms of chronic venous disease (evaluated through clinical class of CEAP) was observed after bariatric surgery.

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de Medeiros Alves Fernandes, W.R., Lins, E.M., Rocha, F.A. et al. Effect of Obesity and Bariatric Surgery on Saphenous Veins. OBES SURG 33, 821–825 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06469-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-023-06469-7

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