A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CLINICAL PROFILE AND MANAGEMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Introduction: Varicose veins are a superficial vein of the lower limb that has permanently lost
its valvular efficiency and has become dilated, tortuous, and thickened as a result of the resulting venous hypertension in the standing position. Varicose veins affect 23% of American adults, according to statistics. When spider telangiectasis and reticular veins are included, the prevalence rises to 80% in males and 85% in females. Varicose vein disease is distinguished by dilated, elongated, and tortuous superficial veins of the lower limbs, which may allow blood to flow backwards due to faulty valves.
Materials and methods: The present study had been carried out in the tertiary care hospital
settings of surgery department at Govt Medical College, Ananthapur. The study was prospective observational single center study. The period of study was from October 2021 to September 2022 for 12 months. 60 patients were selected for the study. Patients of varicose veins of lower limbs of age 14 years and above irrespective of sex, cases of recurrent varicose veins, patients of chronic varicose veins and its complications like venous ulcer, deep vein thrombosis were included in the study. Patients who did not give valid informed consent, unreported serious adverse events and patients not following instructions of operating surgeon also not coming for follow up were excluded from the study.
Results: Varicose veins of the lower limb are disease of adult life. The youngest in the study was 23 years and the eldest was 69 years. In our study, 46 patients were male and 14 patients were female. Farmers forms the largest proportion around 33.33%. Manual labourer forms 30%. This disease affects mostly lower socioeconomic classes and those who stand for prolonged periods. In our study, almost all patients came with complaint of prominent veins at the time of presentation out of which 76.67% of patient’s shares isolated prominent veins. Other symptoms like pain, pigmentation, edema and ulceration were also associated with prominent veins.