Superficial Venous Disease Treatment - Is There Still a Role for Open Surgery in 2011 ?

Abstract

The treatment of superficial venous disease (commonly described as varicose veins by the general public) has remained relatively constant over the past 100 years until the refinements of endovenous treatments such as sclerotherapy and more recently, the development of endovenous ablation. This has radically changed the treatment profile of this disease with treatments easily administered and well tolerated even in those patients who would not be considered fit for open surgery previously. With the advent of day surgery and improved general and local anaesthetic techniques, venous surgery has forged a path towards the end goal of outpatient treatment with no requirement for inpatient stay. The end goal of all superficial venous surgery is an improvement in quality of life, and with such new treatments reducing the impact of the actual intervention, such gains are easier to make.

This review assesses and presents the current literature describing superficial venous disease treatments covering all treatment modalities.

With endovenous treatment, true ambulatory treatment is available, providing high quality treatment at speed and convenience for patients.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

T. R. A. Lane

T. R. A. Lane Academic Section of Vascular Surgery Division of Surgery & Cancer Imperial College School of Medicine Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK E-mail: [email protected]