Varicosity Treatment of Lower Extremity and Quality of Life

Abstract

The changes in QOL (quality of life) before and after treatment of the varicosity of lower extremity were observed in 95 patients with primary lower extremity varicosity. The patients were allocated into the mild group consisting of 47 cases of CEAP class C2 and 12 cases of CEAP class C3 and the severe group consisting of 23 cases of CEAP class C4a, 2 cases of CEAP class C4b, 1 case of CEAP class C5, and 10 cases of CEAP class C6. In operative procedures, 58 patients had ligation of saphenous vein under local anesthesia and 37 patients received stripping under general anesthesia. Their QOL were observed using the SF-36 Questionnaire before, 3 months and 1 year after treatment. There were no significant differences between the groups before treatment. One year later, the scores of the role-physical, bodily pain, social functioning, role-emotion, and mental health in the severe group were significantly higher than those in the mild group. In the subgroup of C2 patients, the scores of vitality and mental health before treatment in the patients who had stripping were significantly lower than those in the patients who had ligature. After surgery, no significant differences were observed in operative procedures. QOL assessment by using the SF-36 Questionnaire was effective in assessment of the therapeutic effect. Mental parameters were also able to be evaluated.