Our Experience of Day Case Surgery of Varicose Veins in Relation to Delaying Factors

Abstract

Background: Day case surgery may reduce burden of inpatient bed requirements. Varicose vein surgery is a simple procedure in which patient can be discharged on day case basis, which can improve patient health, can reduce burden of hospital and cost of patient. Aim: To determine the frequency of patients undergoing day case procedure and overnight hospital stay after varicose veins surgery and to compare the frequency of delaying factors in patients undergoing day case procedure and overnight hospital stay. Methods: It was a descriptive case series conducted in the Department of Surgery, Jinnah Hospital Lahore. The study duration was from March 2013 to June 2017. Study was approved by the Ethical and review committee. It includes 170 patients of varicose veins, from 20 to 60 years presenting to surgical OPD fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: The mean age of patients was 38.40±11.76 years. Out of 170 subjects, 138(81.2%) patients had undergone day case procedure while the remaining 32(18.8%) patients had an overnight hospital stay procedure. Patients who had overnight hospital stay was 34.4% for recurrent varicose vein surgery, 50% for bilateral varicose vein surgery and 56.3% for Saphenopopliteal Ligation. Conclusion: Varicose vein surgery with appropriate organization is safe, feasible and cost-effective day case procedure. However, overnight stay of few patients for minor post-operative problems.