By Katherine Kozlowski, Medical Author and Contributor to Vein News and VeinsVeinsVeins.com
We receive a lot of queries from primary care providers regarding the issue of DVT/VTE prophylaxis for patients with varicose veins who are having varicose vein procedures.
The questions arise because they have read that patients with varicose veins are among lists of patients who are at "high risk for venous thromboembolism" after any type of surgery. The "presence of varicose veins" is listed as having a higher risk of developing venous thromboembolism.
A published article from the UK Royal Society of Medicine has addressed this issue and made its recommendations. The article reference is shown below. The article states that for patients with no apparent [additional] risk factors, there is "no evidence for or against using pharmacologic prophylaxis for patients undergoing varicose vein procedures".
The authors state that there is no good evidence that [the presence of varicose veins] poses a higher risk for ncreased risk for developing venous thromboembolism after varicose vein surgery.
Reference: Nyamekye IK and Campbell B. UK Society of Medicine Venous Forum VTE Advice 2020. Phlebology 2021: 36: 88-90.