Evidence-based venous treatment

Varicose veins affect up to 20% of the adult population. Their management comprises a significant proportion of the workload of most vascular specialists. Over the last decade the number of interventions for varicose veins has increased in the United States, largely because of the advent of minimally invasive therapy. There is good evidence that treating symptomatic uncomplicated varicose veins improves quality of life and is cost-effective.

The new methods have allowed interventions for varicose veins to move away from the operating room and general anaesthesia into office-based facilities; this has reduced costs. An efficient cost-effective pathway for dealing with varicose veins benefits both patients and providers. The large array of treatments now available has lead to controversy amongst third-party payers and patients. Going forward, evidence-based strategies will rule the day in the determination of medical necessity and which procedures benefit patients most.