Abstract
Objective:
To assess the efficacy of locoregional anaesthesia and non-opiate analgesia in controlling pain after varicose vein surgery. To examine patient attitudes to day case surgery for this condition.
Design:
Prospective single patient group study (22 consecutive patients).
Setting:
University College Hospital (Teaching Hospital).
Intervention:
Locoregional and general anaesthesia. Non-opiate analgesia. Surgical treatment for varicose
Main outcome measures:
Patient interview, pain scores, analgesia requirement.
Result:
Post operative Pain was absent in 36% during the first 24 hours. Oral analgesia was given to 36% as inpatients but only 18% after discharge. Before surgery, 95% would have preferred DCS but only 24% at six months. The after-effects of general anaesthesia was the main reason for this change in attitude.
Conclusions:
Patients would like day case surgery for varicose veins but anaesthesia and analgesia must be satisfactory.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.