Influence of compression therapy following varicose vein surgery: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND: The use of compression dressings after phlebectomy is based solely on clinical experience due to the lack of a unified set of definitive recommendations, which makes clinical practice extremely heterogeneous. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate compression therapy with elastic stockings for 7 days after phlebectomy. METHODS: We randomly allocated 104 lower limbs with disease classified as C1 and C2 to 1 of 2 groups: an intervention group (64 limbs) – wearing elastic compression stockings for the first 7 days after phlebectomy; or a control group (40 limbs) – given conventional bandaging for 24 hours postoperatively. We compared clinical response by analyzing the evolution of symptoms, hematoma formation, and preoperative vs. postoperative limb volume. RESULTS: Pain (median 1.0 vs. 1.5, p=0.0320) and limb volume (mean 43.7 vs. 99.8, p=0.0071) were significantly improved in patients wearing elastic compression stockings for 7 days after phlebectomy compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: Use of elastic compression therapy for 7 days after phlebectomy was effective for improving pain and lower limb volume.