A Comparison of the Complication Rates Following Unilateral and Bilateral Varicose Vein Surgery

ObjectiveTo compare the complication rates of unilateral and bilateral varicose vein surgery.DesignObservational clinical study with prospective data collection.SettingSouthport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust.Subjects1090 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).Results43/695 (6.2%) of patients who underwent unilateral surgery and 34/395 (8.6%) of patients who underwent bilateral surgery developed a wound infection. 77/695 (11%) of patients who underwent unilateral surgery developed paraesthesia compared to 81/395 (21%) for bilateral surgery. 2/695 (0.13%) unilateral surgery patients and no bilateral surgery patients developed neuralgia. Residual varicose veins were present in 30/695 (4.3%) of unilateral group and 32/395 (8.1%) of the bilateral group. 1/695 (0.14%) of unilateral surgery patients and 3/395 (0.75%) of bilateral surgery patients developed DVTs. Comparing limbs, a complication of any type was seen in 153/695 (22%) limbs treated by unilateral surgery and 150/790 (19% N.S., Chi squared) limbs treated by bilateral surgery.ConclusionComplications 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.