Socio-Economic Benefits of Ambulatory Surgery and Compression Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins

Abstract

During the last two decades the treatment of varicose veins has undergone radical changes including shorter hospitalization, and the introduction of ambulatory (out-patient) surgery and modern compression sclerotherapy (CST).

This article attempts to describe the changing pattern of care and its socio-economic consequences. It concludes that given optimal conditions possibly 60% of all patients suffering from varicose veins can have out-patient surgery performed, 20% need admission for surgery and the remaining 20% benefit from CST rather than surgery.

Applied generally this policy would result in 30% lower costs when compared with in-patient surgery alone. The socio-economic gain is probably doubtful since productivity usually increases whereas the total health care cost does not decrease. However, in general the introduction of less costly medical methods of treatment might make it possible to use available resources in new medical fields within a given economic frame-work, preserving the same level of service.