Objective: To assess the incidence and causes of recurrence of varicose veins in the Sohag Faculty of 
Medicine Hospital.
Patients and Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in Vascular Surgery and 
Radiology Departments of Sohag Faculty of Medicine Hospital. Seventy four patients, 46 female and 28 male 
(89 limbs) with a mean age (41 years) (range 25-57) were evaluated prospectively preoperative and 
postoperative at one month, one year, and one and half year following surgery by clinical examination and 
Duplex examination. Varicose veins were treated either by restricted stripping or total stripping
Results: The overall recurrence rate by Duplex following stripping operation was 19% (17/89). Twenty 
seven percentage (5/16) of patients who were subjected to restrict stripping and only 16%(12/73) was the 
recurrence rate for patients who were subjected to total long saphenous vein stripping (LSV).
The causes of recurrence were due to: 1) True recurrent varicose veins, in 29.4% (5/17) limbs, caused by 
neovascularization in 4 limbs and tactical errors in one case. 2) New veins in 23.5% (4/17) limbs as a result 
of disease progression. 3) Residual veins in 11.8% (2/17) limbs. 4) Complex pattern in 35.3% (6/17) limbs. 
In limbs presented with recurrent varicose veins, (41) sources of refluxes were seen: (7/41) new set of veins 
caused by disease progression, (5/41) caused by neovascularization, (6/41) caused by tactical errors, (2/41) 
caused by technical errors and (21/41) caused by complex pattern.
Conclusion: Despite of preoperative and operative precautions, there is still an unavoidable percentage of 
recurrence, mainly caused by neovascularization and disease progression. The total stripping of LSV is more 
favorable than restricted stripping.