[Complications in surgery of varicose veins]

Based on our experience derived from approximately 20,000 varicose vein operations during the last three decades we report about possible complications in varicose vein surgery. We had no postoperative mortality. Crossectomy of the greater saphenous vein may lead to major complications. We describe a case of femoral artery injury. Postoperative deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are very rare events. Bleeding complications in the groin, necessitating surgical reintervention are seldom, other bleeding complications like suffusions and hematomas can be seen more often. These complications are significantly more frequent if we use low molecular weight heparins for prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis postoperatively. Lymphatic complications like lymphcysts and -fistulas are harmless in most cases and regress spontaneously. Concerning neurological complications lesions of the saphenous nerve are of some importance. Altogether the risk for a patient undergoing varicose vein surgery is minimal but not zero.