Please contact a member of nursing staff at the appropriate day unit if you wish to discuss your operation before your admission to hospital. Contact numbers can be found at the end of this leaflet.
The Procedure
The word ‘varicose’ means twisted and swollen.
Veins are part of the body’s circulation and carry blood from all parts the body back to the heart. Veins have valves in them, which prevent backflow and ensure that the blood travels in only one direction. Varicose veins occur when the valves do not work properly and the veins then become swollen and twisted.
Varicose veins can result from pregnancy or standing for long periods of time without exercising the muscles in the legs; there may also be a history of varicose veins in the family.
The operation involves making small incisions into the legs at various points and removing the veins. There are plenty of deep veins to maintain the circulation, if the varicose veins are removed.
Before your operation
You will be having a general anaesthetic, and will have a pre-screening appointment to assess your suitability for day surgery, before you are given a date for your operation.
At this appointment the nurse will take details of your:
- medical history
- current medication
- home care arrangements after you have been discharged from hospital.
Please use this opportunity to ask any questions about your surgery and after-care. Where possible, the nurse will arrange a mutually convenient date for your surgery. S/he will also give you instructions about preparing for your operation, which will include advice about:
- having a bath or shower before you come to the hospital
- eating and drinking
- taking your normal medication, if appropriate
- returning to work after surgery
You may be given an appointment (usually one week before your surgery) to have your veins marked using ultrasound guidance. If you do not have this appointment, the surgeon will inspect your legs on the day of surgery and mark the veins with a pen.
On the day of surgery
You should have a bath or shower before you come to hospital. If you wear contact lenses, you will need to remove them prior to your operation. Please bring your spectacles or an extra pair of contact lenses with you.
On admission to the unit you will be greeted by a nurse who will check that your details are correct. The surgeon and the anaesthetist (if you are having a general anaesthetic) will talk to you and you will be invited to ask any questions you may have.
If appropriate, your operation site will normally be marked.
You will be asked to wear an anti-embolic (elastic) stocking on the leg that is not being operated on.
A member of staff will escort you, as you walk to the operating theatre.
Following your operation
You will be transferred to the ward area where nurses will continue to monitor your condition. If you feel any discomfort, please inform the nurse looking after you, so that pain relief can be given.
As long as you do not feel sick (after a general anaesthetic) you will be encouraged to have something to eat or drink, prior to going home. After about 1-2 hours, if the nurse feels you are sufficiently recovered, you may be discharged home.
Care at home
You will be prescribed painkillers to take home with you. Please take only as directed on the packaging.
The wounds in your groins will have been closed with stitches and you will be advised if they need to be removed. The other wounds on your legs will be closed with SteristripsTM (adhesive strips of tape).
At the end of the operation, your leg(s) will be bandaged.
The bandages will normally stay in place for one week and the nurse will advise you about this, before you are discharged from the Unit.
If you experience blueness of the toes, persistent ‘pins & needles’ or numbness, please seek medical attention immediately.
After the first week you should remove the dressings, together with the SteristripsTM which are stuck over the incisions. You should then wear your support stockings for a further ……………. weeks (your nurse will tell you this).
The stocking(s) should be put on before you stand up, in the morning, and should be kept on throughout the day, except when bathing. You may experience increased discomfort or pain, particularly when passing water or having a bowel movement, if you are not wearing your stockings.
For the first couple of weeks, it is important that you continue to walk frequently throughout the day. You should avoid long periods of standing or sitting with your feet on the floor as this may cause the veins in the lower part of the legs to swell.
You may return to work as soon as you feel comfortable, usually after the dressings have been removed. If your job entails long periods of standing continue to wear your stockings and try to exercise your legs by ‘walking on the spot’.
You may drive when you feel you can safely perform an emergency stop. This is normally after your bandages have been removed. Please check that your insurance policy does not prohibit you for longer, following a general anaesthetic
or surgery.
Complications
Minor
- slight oozing of blood from operation site
- infection at the operation site
Moderate
- recurrence of varicose veins
Major
- severe blood loss
- nerve damage in the legs
- reduced blood circulation to the legs
Please contact your GP, if you develop:
- a temperature
- fresh bleeding or bruising
- redness or swelling at the operation site
- pus or drainage from the operation site
- prolonged or severe pain
If you have any problems or cause for concern within seven days of your operation, please contact:
The relevant Day Unit:
David Beevers Day Unit, St James’s Hospital: 0113 206 5786
(Monday 8.00a.m. to Friday 8.00p.m. inclusive)
Wharfedale Hospital Day Unit: 0113 392 1713
Or
The Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU): 0113 206 9256
You will be given a date for the removal of your stitches
You will be given a date for your outpatient appointment