English

Abstract

BACKGROUND Chronic venous disorders are an important cause of disease and disability worldwide. Varicose veins are dilated, tortuous elongated veins. Varicose veins are either primary or secondary. Most of the patients are asymptomatic. Indian populations present with complications like venous bleed, thrombophlebitis, chronic venous insufficiency leading to edema, eczema, lipodermatosclerosis, and venous ulcers. Varicose vein surgery is characterized by a high recurrence rate of 20 % to 60 % after 5 years and even higher after longer periods of observation. Recurrence may be due to several causes like inaccurate initial diagnosis, progression of disease, inadequate initial surgery, altered venous dynamics, and neovascularisation. METHODS In this cross sectional single center study, 100 patients above 18 years of of age of both genders presenting with complications of varicose veins and cases of postoperative recurrent varicose veins were included. This study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Sri Venkateswara Ramnarayan Ruia Government General Hospital (SVRRGGH), Tirupati, over a period of one year. RESULTS In the present study, the great saphenous vein (GSV) was involved in 85 % of cases, the short saphenous vein (SSV) in 2 %, and both long and short saphenous in 9 %. The commonest complication was edema in 88 % of the patients, followed by 43 % with eczema. Recurrent varicose veins were seen in 4 % of patients. CONCLUSIONS Complications were more common in our setting at the time of presentation. Variable anatomy of the venous system of the lower limb makes prior duplex scan assessment compulsory in the surgical management of cases. Surgical management is to be planned properly after complete evaluation and should be planned at the right time, as it is a progressing clinical entity. KEYWORDS Varicose Veins, Complications, Recurrence, Management