A comparison of the complication rates following unilateral and bilateral varicose vein surgery

Objective. To compare the complication rates Of unilateral and bilateral varicose vein surgery. Design. Observational clinical study with prospective data collection. Setting. Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust. Subjects. 1090 patients undergoing varicose vein surgery during the period January 2002-June 2005. 695 (64%) of these had unilateral surgery and 395 (36%) had bilateral surgery giving a total of 1485 legs operated on (47% as a unilateral operation and 53% as a bilateral operation). Results. 431695 (6.2%) of patients who underwent unilateral surgery and 341395 (8.6%) of patients who underwent bilateral surgery developed a wound infection. 771695 (11%) of patients 70110 underwent unilateral surgery developed paraesthesia compared to 811395 (21%)for bilateral surgery. 21695 (0.13%) unilateral surgery patients and no bilateral surgery patients developed neuralgia. Residual varicose veins were present in 301695 (4.3%) of unilateral group and 321395 (8.1%) of the bilateral group. 11695 (0.14%) of unilateral surgery patients and 31395 (0.75%) of bilateral surgery patients developed DVTs. Comparing limbs, a complication of any type was seen in 1531695 (22%) limbs treated by unilateral surgery and 1501790 (19% N.S., Chi squared) limbs treated by bilateral surgery. Conclusion. Complications following varicose vein surgery appear to be more common following bilateral procedures. However, the complication rate per limb is similar for unilateral and bilateral operations. (c) 2008 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.