title: The incidence of post operative venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing varicose vein surgery recorded in Hospital Episode Statistics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of post-operative venous thromboembolism (VTE) following varicose vein treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data were obtained for all patients undergoing varicose vein treatment between April 2006  and April 2007 to identify those reattending with either deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of VTE was 0.51%, which was comparable with the incidence for those undergoing open surgery (0.54%), sclerotherapy (0.19%) and endovenous laser therapy  (EVLT) (0.47%). The incidence of VTE in those undergoing combined EVLT and phlebectomy was 1.26% (p=0.01). In contrast to unilateral treatment (all modalities), where bilateral treatment was performed an increase in the incidence of VTE was seen in those undergoing redo (1.62%) and  short saphenous system (1.16%) treatments. Overall, 1.02% of cases were performed under local anaesthesia with zero incidence of VTE in this cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall incidence of VTE recorded in HES was 0.51% and appears to be highest in those undergoing bilateral redo or short  saphenous system surgery as well as those undergoing a combination of EVLT and phlebectomy. The use of VTE prophylaxis, particularly in these groups, is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Dhuwaib
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Duhwaib
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Guy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology