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Varicose Vein Outpatient Follow-Up Is Reassuring But Unnecessary
A DGReview of :"Evidence-Based Follow-up after Varicose Vein Surgery"
Phlebology
08/05/2002
By Anne MacLennan
Outpatient follow-up after varicose vein surgery cannot be justified on clinical grounds, suggests a team of doctors in England.
Postoperative complications or problems that may occur usually develop within the first two weeks. This coincides with peaks of pain, swelling and bruising and can all be dealt with in the community, reports this study from Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, and The John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
Ninety six consecutive patients undergoing varicose vein surgery participated in this evidence-based follow-up investigation by Dr C. M. H. Bailey and colleagues. The researchers wanted to determine the optimum timing, and the need, for outpatient follow-up of such patients.
On postoperative days one through 10, and days 12, 14, 21 and 28, all patients completed linear analogue scales to record their pain, bruising and swelling.
They scored the maximum on day two for swelling, on day four for bruising and on days one and six for pain. Most returned to work in about two weeks (range one to 42 days).
During the postoperative period, 29 of the patients visited their family doctors, 24 (83 percent) of these within two weeks of the surgery.
At six weeks, the median length of outpatient consultation was five minutes.
Although 57 patients found this appointment reassuring, none of them required any further treatment.
Phlebology Volume 16 Issue 4 (2002) pp 170-172.
"Evidence-Based Follow-up after Varicose Vein Surgery"
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