title: Varicose veins - natural history, assessment and management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Varicose veins are a common condition. Presentations can range from those that are noticed incidentally to those causing significant symptoms. Management options range from conservative to surgical approaches, with many alternatives available that offer different advantages, disadvantages and long term outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the natural history, assessment and management of varicose veins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical or other intervention is only necessary in a small percentage of patients, and is seldom urgent, perhaps only in the setting of progressive thrombophlebitis. Duplex ultrasound has become an essential modality for diagnosis, treatment and follow up. All the current modalities of endoluminal and open surgical treatment have similar short term outcomes and risks. Appropriate surgical treatment has the best long term outcomes and evidence base. Treatment of choice, however, depends on many factors, including local expertise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, South Australia and Department of Vascular Surgery, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. drneilwright@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fitridge
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D058128:Compression Bandages; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy