Varicose vein treatment reduces edema not only in the treated legs but also in the entire body.

Abstract

We explored the connection between varicose vein and edema, by investigating extracellular water ratio (E/T) using bioelectrical impedance analysis. In a prospective cohort study 120 patients underwent varicose vein surgery with extracellular fluid to total body water ratio (E/T) and E/T postop divided by E/Tpreop (E/T ratio) measured using a body composition analyzer. Edema was defined as E/T ≥0.390. Seventy-nine patients received unilateral treatment, while 41 underwent bilateral. p < .05 is statistically significant. Preoperatively, patients exhibited edema (E/T) in the treated leg (0.394 ± 0.009), untreated leg (0.392 ± 0.009), trunk (0.390 ± 0.007), and whole body (0.391 ± 0.007). Postoperatively, E/T decreased across body (p < .05). The lowest E/T ratio was observed in the treated leg (0.991 ± 0.012), followed by the untreated leg (0.994 ± 0.012), the trunk (0.995 ± 0.009), and the whole body (0.994 ± 0.009). E/T ratio of bilateral group were lower than unilateral group (p < .05). Varicose vein contributes to generalized edema, and treatment alleviates edema in the treated leg and the entire body.