If the saphenous vein is removed, how is the body able to circulate blood?

Small veins give deoxigenated blood to the main saphenous vein. After that, deoxygenated blood goes through the saphenous to the heart and lungs to get fresh oxygen and circulate it through arteries. If you remove the saphenous, how does this process work? How is the body able to circulate blood without it?

Answers from doctors (4)


Harbin Clinic Vein Center

Published on Mar 28, 2019

A healthy saphenous vein assists in returning blood from the lower extremities to the heart, but this function is dependent on the presence of a healthy system of check valves throughout the vein.

In the presence of venous insufficiency, where the valves are not working, blood runs in the wrong direction from the body down to the lower leg and actually overloads the other veins that are trying to return blood to the heart.

Under normal circumstances, 70-80% of the blood returning to the heart comes through the deep veins in the muscles of the leg.

In the circumstances of saphenous vein reflux or varicose veins, these deep veins have to work extra hard to return the blood to the heart.

After removal or ablation of a diseased saphenous vein, the blood will flow through the deep system in a normal manner. In most instances, the deep system has more than enough excess capacity to handle the blood that would normally go through the saphenous vein.

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Answered by Harbin Clinic Vein Center

A healthy saphenous vein assists in returning blood from the lower extremities to the heart, but this function is dependent on the presence of a healthy system of check valves throughout the vein.

In the presence of venous insufficiency, where the valves are not working, blood runs in the wrong direction from the body down to the lower leg and actually overloads the other veins that are trying to return blood to the heart.

Under normal circumstances, 70-80% of the blood returning to the heart comes through the deep veins in the muscles of the leg.

In the circumstances of saphenous vein reflux or varicose veins, these deep veins have to work extra hard to return the blood to the heart.

After removal or ablation of a diseased saphenous vein, the blood will flow through the deep system in a normal manner. In most instances, the deep system has more than enough excess capacity to handle the blood that would normally go through the saphenous vein.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Vanish Vein and Laser Center

Published on Dec 14, 2015

The saphenous vein is a superficial vein. There are many other veins in the leg that will carry the blood back to the heart. If someone has open heart surgery and the saphenous vein is removed for the bypass, that person still functions normally. The concepts are the same for saphenous vein ablation.

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Answered by Vanish Vein and Laser Center

The saphenous vein is a superficial vein. There are many other veins in the leg that will carry the blood back to the heart. If someone has open heart surgery and the saphenous vein is removed for the bypass, that person still functions normally. The concepts are the same for saphenous vein ablation.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Sheen Vein Institute

Published on Dec 08, 2015

The same way the blood flows now with the refluxing saphenous vein. Your body uses the remaining miles and miles of collateral vein structure to circulate venous blood back up towards the heart. There is a lot of redundancy in one's vein structure.

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Answered by The Sheen Vein Institute

The same way the blood flows now with the refluxing saphenous vein. Your body uses the remaining miles and miles of collateral vein structure to circulate venous blood back up towards the heart. There is a lot of redundancy in one's vein structure.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Advanced Vein Center

Published on Dec 08, 2015

The saphenous vein is not a major vein and, in fact, provides only a tiny amount of venous return. It is a superficial vein and all of the superficial veins in the lower leg only account for 10% of venous return.

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Answered by Advanced Vein Center

The saphenous vein is not a major vein and, in fact, provides only a tiny amount of venous return. It is a superficial vein and all of the superficial veins in the lower leg only account for 10% of venous return.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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