Varicose veins and their management

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7562.287

BMJ 2006;333:287-292 (5 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7562.287

Clinical review

Varicose veins and their management

Bruce Campbell, consultant surgeon and professor¹

¹ Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and Peninsula Medical School, Exeter EX2 5DW bruce.campbell@nice.org.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Introduction

Varicose veins are tortuous, widened veins in the subcutaneoustissues of the legs and are often easily visible. Their valvesare usually incompetent so that reflux of blood occurs, andthe resulting venous hypertension can cause symptoms. Varicoseveins are widely seen as medically unimportant and deservinglow priority for treatment. They are common, affecting nearlya third of adults in Western societies, and few people withvaricose veins are ever harmed by them. However, they causeconcern and distress on a large scale, most of which can bedealt with by good explanation and reassurance, or by a varietyof treatments which are evolving rapidly at present. Patientscan now be referred for more precise assessment and a greaterrange of therapeutic options than ever before.

Who gets varicose veins?

A large UK population study has shown age adjusted prevalencesof 40% in men and 32% in women, although women more often present. . . [Full text of this article]

What problems can varicose veins cause?

What other conditions can varicose veins be confused with?

How should varicose veins be assessed?

What should people with varicose veins be told?

Referral for specialist advice

Operations for varicose veins

Which treatment should patients choose for their varicose veins?

Uncertainties and the need for further research

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