[Early results after varicose vein surgery--a multicenter patient inquiry].

OBJECTIVE

Beside varicose vein surgery, endovenous procedures (endovenous laser therapy, VNUS and foam sclerotherapy) are now therapeutic options with the following advantages: low invasiveness, only out-patient operations, quick resumption of general activities. Whether or not classical vein surgery today still fulfills patient demands was analysed by a study group of German vascular surgeons (ANG) as a multicentre patient questioning.

METHODS

The questionnaire was subdivided into eight main complexes with 24 questions about the early results of stripping operations (from start of preparation until suture removal) and the patients answers were analysed. Answers with points (1-6) and free answers were possible.

RESULTS

Between 1.1.2005 and 31.3.2005 18 centres for vascular surgery collected 1708 questionnaires from patients after stripping operations. The complex "preparation and information about the operation" was scored with 1.33 to 1.39. The "general organisation" of the vascular centre was scored between 1.22 and 1.30. "Pain after operation" was rated at 1.98 (immediately), 2.26 (first day) and 2.12 (third day after operation). Reasons for other problems after surgery were haematoma (3.09), problems with the compression dressing (1.67), circulatory collapse (1.51), headache (1.33), nausea (1.25). The total score for all centres was 1.47.

CONCLUSIONS

The early results after varicose vein surgery are good up to very good. The patients' reconvalescence time is short and there is a quick resumption of general activities. The invasiveness of vein surgery seems to be overestimated. Comparative studies to evaluate the new methods are necessary. Benchmarking projects like this study are essential parts of current quality control systems.