Varicose veins are a common problem in the developed world estimated to affect up to a third of adults in the UK aged 18–64 years. They are tortuous or dilated veins in the subcutaneous tissues that rarely present as an acute emergency but bear a significant impact upon quality of life, which can be improved by surgery or in most cases effective reassurance. The key role of the GP remains to appropriately reassure patients with varicose veins and identify those that require referral for further assessment and therapy.
ArshadA.LondonN.McCarthyM.ABC of arterial and venous disease. Varicose veins. Chapter 10. British Medical Journal (2009)
3.
BakerS.R.StaceyM.C.Epidemiology of chronic leg ulcers in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Surgery (1994) 64: p. 258–61
4.
BeardJ.D.GainesP.A.Vascular and endovascular surgery. A companion to specialist surgical practice (3rd edition) (2006) Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders. Chapter 19. p. 373–87. ISBN 0-7020-2734-0
5.
BerganJ.J.Schmid-SchönbeinG.W.SmithP.D.NicolaidesA.N.BoisseauM.R.EklofB.Chronic venous disease. New England Journal of Medicine (2006) 355: p. 488–98
6.
BhayaniR.LippitzJ.Varicose veins. Disease-a-Month (2009) 55: p. 212–22
7.
BrasicN.LoprestiD.McSwainH.Endovenous laser ablation and sclerotherapy for treatment of varicose veins. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery (2008) 27: p. 264–75
8.
CallamM.J.Epidemiology of varicose veins. British Journal of Surgery (1994) 81: p. 167–73
9.
CampbellB.Varicose veins and their management. British Medical Journal (2006) 333: p. 287–92
10.
ElsharawyM.A.NaimM.M.AbdelmaguidE.M.Al-MulhimA.A.Role of saphenous vein wall in the pathogenesis of primary varicose veins. Interactive Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery (2007) 6: p. 219–24
11.
GreyJ.E.HardingK.G.EnochS.Venous and arterial leg ulcers. British Medical Journal (2006) 332: p. 347–50
12.
JonesR.H.CarekP.J.Management of varicose veins. American Family Physician (2008) 78: p. 1289–94 Accessed via www.aafp.org/afp/2008/1201/p1289.html [date last accessed 11.06.2010]
13.
LimC.S.DaviesA.H.Pathogenesis of primary varicose veins. British Journal of Surgery (2009) 96: p. 1231–42
14.
LuisRodríguez-Peralto, J.CarrilloR.RosalesB.Rodríguez-GilY.Superficial thrombophlebitis. Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery (2007) 26: p. 71–6
15.
Maessen-VischM.B.Atrophie blanche. European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology (2000) 90: p. 1–2
16.
MichaelsJ.A.CampbellW.B.BrazierJ.E.Randomised clinical trial, observational study and assessment of cost-effectiveness of the treatment of varicose veins (REACTIV trial). Heath Technology Assessment (Winchester, England) (2006) 10: p. 1–196
Olulu University Library. Primary saphenous vein insufficiency: prospective studies on diagnostic duplex ultrasonography and endovenous treatment with endovenous radiofrequency-resistive heating. Section 2.6 Classification of chronic venous disease (2002) Accessed via herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514267230/html/i634880.html [date last accessed 27.03.2010]
19.
PerkinsJ.M.Standard varicose vein surgery. Phlebology (2009) 24: p. 34–41
20.
PorterJ.M.MonetaG.L.Reporting standards in venous disease: an update. International Consensus Committee on Chronic Venous Disease. Journal of Vascular Surgery (1995) 21: p. 635–45
21.
RajuS.NeglénP.Clinical practice. Chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins. New England Journal of Medicine (2009) 360: p. 2319–27
RobertsonL.EvansC.FowkesF.G.Epidemiology of chronic venous disease. Phlebology (2008) 23: p. 103–11
24.
RuckleyC.V.EvansC.J.AllanP.L.LeeA.J.FowkesF.G.Chronic venous insufficiency: clinical and duplex correlations. The Edinburgh Vein Study of venous disorders in the general population. Journal of Vascular Surgery (2002) 36: p. 520–5
25.
SainsP.S.ReddyK.M.JonesH.J.S.DerodraJ.K.Audit of varicose vein surgery: the patients' perspective. Phlebology (2005) 20: p. 179–82
26.
UhlJ.F.Cornu-ThénardA.CarpentierP.H.WidmerM.T.PartschH.AntignaniP.L.Clinical and hemodynamic significance of corona phlebectatica in chronic venous disorders. Journal of Vascular Surgery (2005) 42: p. 1163–8
