[Ambulatory operation of varicose veins]

Over the past years out-patient operations of varicose veins have become increasingly accepted. In the year 1998 the number of patients treated for long saphenous vein varicosis on an outpatient-basis has risen to 66,922. For the individual risk assessment of the patient the ASA-classification is proven. ASA-class I and II patients may be considered for out-patient treatment. 98.2% of our patients that were operated upon 1995 on an outpatient-basis were classified as ASA I or II. Beside the risk assessment the extension of the disease should determine the indication for outpatient or inpatient treatment. During the year 1995 the majority of operations were performed for long or short saphenous vein varicosis (51.3% in the outpatient group, 61.9% in the inpatient group). But the percentage of isolated treatment of sidebranches and perforating veins was much higher in the outpatient group with 30% in comparison to the inpatient group with 3.4%. Under these conditions outpatient varicose vein surgery can be carried out with good result and a low complication-rate. In our outpatient group a deep vein thrombosis occurred in 0.03%, in other outpatient centers the incidence of deep vein thrombosis was reported with 0.08%. Wound infection was seen in 0.49%, a bleeding complication in 0.16% of the patients.