How we made the decision

We check our guidelines regularly to ensure they remain up to date. We based the decision on surveillance 2 years after the publication of varicose veins (2013) NICE guideline CG168.

For details of the process and update decisions that are available, see ensuring that published guidelines are current and accurate in 'Developing NICE guidelines: the manual'.

New evidence

We found 17 new studies in a search for randomised controlled trials published between 1 October 2012 and 29 June 2015.

We also checked for relevant ongoing research, which will be evaluated again at the next surveillance review of the guideline.

See appendix A: decision matrix for summaries and references for all new evidence considered.

Views of topic experts

We considered the views of topic experts, including those who helped to develop the guideline and other correspondence we have received since the publication of the guideline.

Views of stakeholders

Stakeholders are consulted only if we decide not to update the guideline following checks at 4 and 8 years after publication. Because this was a 2‑year surveillance review, and the decision was not to update, we did not consult on the decision.

See ensuring that published guidelines are current and accurate in 'Developing NICE guidelines: the manual' for more details on our consultation processes.

Date of next surveillance

Our next surveillance to decide whether the guideline should be updated is scheduled for 2017.

NICE Surveillance programme project team

Sarah Willett
Associate Director

Philip Alderson
Consultant Clinical Adviser

Katrina Sparrow
Technical Adviser

Khalid Ashfaq
Technical Analyst

The NICE project team would like to thank the topic experts who participated in the surveillance process.


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