Complications of Venous Surgery

No operation is risk free and it is important that you understand the risk involved. The risks are small nevertheless. Bruising and pain in the areas where the veins have been removed is the most common complication. Both usually settle within a few weeks depending on the number of veins removed. Wound infection occurs in about 5% of operation and settle with a course of antibiotics. Damage to surrounding anatomical structures is very rare (<1%) but there is always a small risk of damage to the main arteries, veins and even major nerves of the leg in explorations at the groin and behind the knee. Injury to small sensory nerve branches in the skin can result in small patches of numbness, burning or altered skin sensation close to surgical scars or where varicose veins have been avulsed in the calf. The majority settle down after a few months but in a few cases can be permanent. Finally deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a very rare but serious complication of varicose vein surgery (<1%).

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