It is rare for vein procedures to be performed in the hospital setting.
The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Initiative Program database was queried by Tanner I Kim and colleagues to see whether there is a trend for treatment of varicose veins towards the outpatient setting in the past decade.
The study objective by these researchers was to determine the outcomes of varicose vein procedurex in the elderly population using a large national databse: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Initiative Program database (2005-2017).
Patients in this database were divided into three tertiles: age < 65 years olg, 65-79 year olds, and age > 80 years olg.
The authors conclude that varicose vein procedures are safe for all age groups and is being increasingly offered in the elderly. Furthermore, they showed that "these high risk" patients may benefit from the avoidance of hybrid procedures and avoidance of general anesthesia.
The study is publisehd by Kim TI, Zhang Y, Guzman RJ and Ochoa Chaar CI. J Vasc Surg Venous Lymphat Disord 2021; 9: 146-153.
Dr Karamanoukian's note: It is rare in the phlebology community to do any vein procedures in the hospital setting or under general anesthesia. In my practice, I have not done a single vein procedure either in the hospital setting or under general anesthesia since 2003. This is the norm rather than the exception in the phlebology community.