The following approach to prioritising surgery for varicose veins has been proposed:
- top priority for varicose veins with complications
- medium priority for cases of trunk varicosities
- low priority for reticular varicosities and telangiectasiae
Referral from primary care with varicose veins:
- Refer people to a vascular service if they have any of the following:
- with bleeding varicose veins - requires immediate referral to a vascular service
- symptomatic* primary or symptomatic* recurrent varicose veins
- lower-limb skin changes, such as pigmentation or eczema, thought to be caused by chronic venous insufficiency
- superficial vein thrombosis (characterised by the appearance of hard, painful veins) and suspected venous incompetence
- a venous leg ulcer (a break in the skin below the knee that has not healed within 2 weeks)
- a healed venous leg ulcer
* veins found in association with troublesome lower limb symptoms (typically pain, aching, discomfort, swelling, heaviness and itching)
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