Randomised Clinical Trial of the Duration of Compression Therapy after Varicose Vein Surgery

Abstract

We found no benefit in wearing compression stockings for more than one week following uncomplicated high saphenous ligation with stripping of the great saphenous vein with respect to post-operative pain, number of complications, time to return to work, or patient satisfaction for up to 12 weeks following surgery.

Systematic review of compression following treatment for varicose veins

“…Systematic review of the literature identified 183 potential studies, of which 161 were discounted as ineligible after title and abstract review. After full‐text review of the remaining 22 papers, seven were eligible for inclusion ( Fig . ).…”

“…The analysis included seven RCTs, of which the primary treatment was open conventional surgery in three studies, UGFS in two studies and EVLA in two ( Table ).…”

“…The methodological quality of the trials was variable, ranging from poor to good with a median Jadad score of 4 (range 2–5) ( Table S1 , supporting information). This deficit was due to inadequate description of randomization techniques, little or no assessor blinding at follow‐up assessments, and lack of descriptive information regarding study drop‐out or withdrawals. All studies reported their aims and proposed outcomes.…”

“…All but one study proposed a primary outcome measure. Four RCTs performed a prospective power calculation based on the primary outcome, and one undertook a post hoc analysis of the sample size. Of the four studies, that of Biswas and colleagues was the most credible; their estimation was based on a 1‐point difference on a pain scale.…”

“…Four RCTs performed a prospective power calculation based on the primary outcome, and one undertook a post hoc analysis of the sample size. Of the four studies, that of Biswas and colleagues was the most credible; their estimation was based on a 1‐point difference on a pain scale. The remaining three RCTs were based on fairly large differences in outcomes: 20 per cent difference in oedema and a 5‐point difference in the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ – a disease‐specific QoL instrument), and 33 per cent relative difference in pain on a 0–10‐cm visual analogue scale (VAS).…”