Clinical Evaluation and Management of Varicose Veins of Lower Limb at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Abstract

Varicose veins are defined as dilated, tortuous and elongated veins in the lower limbs. Being one of the most common chronic vascular disorders of the lower limb, the varicose veins affect approximately 10% of the population. If left untreated, the patient may end up with complications like ulceration. The present study is aimed at evaluating the demography, risk factors, clinical features and management of varicose vein patients attending the Department of General Surgery at a tertiary care hospital. This is a prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital involving patients with lower limb varicose veins. Demographic factors like age, gender, etiology, clinical features, site of incompetence, type of surgical procedure and postoperative complications were studied. Out of 74 patients, majority of them (47.2%) were between 41 and 50 years of age, with a predominance of males (51 cases). Analysis of the history of the patients showed that many were chronic alcoholics (72.9%) and chronic smokers (66.2%). Nearly, 91.8% of them presented with visible dilated veins and pain (60.8%) in the affected limb. The long saphenous vein was greatly involved, and majority of them were managed by saphenofemoral flush ligation + subfascial ligation of perforators (SFFL + SFLP) with minimal postoperative complications. Varicosity of the veins of the lower limb is common in patients with long-standing jobs, chronic alcoholics and smokers. Involvement of the long saphenous vein is observed in majority of the patients. Duplex ultrasound is the most sensitive diagnostic procedure and surgery is the primary modality of the treatment.