Varicose veins in the legs

Quality statement

People with varicose veins who are seen by a vascular service are assessed with duplex ultrasound.

Rationale

Duplex ultrasound is a non-invasive scan used to image the blood vessels of the body. It provides detailed information that helps to confirm the diagnosis and pattern of venous disease and determine the most appropriate treatment option. The handheld doppler is still used in some services, but it is outdated and does not provide the detailed, accurate information produced by duplex ultrasound.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (secondary care) ensure that vascular services have adequate numbers of duplex ultrasound machines and that staff have undergone appropriate training, so that all people with varicose veins referred to a vascular service are assessed with duplex ultrasound.

Healthcare professionals working in a vascular service ensure that people with varicose veins are assessed with duplex ultrasound.

Commissioners ensure that they commission vascular services that have sufficient capacity, equipment and skilled staff to assess varicose veins using duplex ultrasound.

People with varicose veins who have been referred to a vascular service have a duplex ultrasound scan (a scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a picture of the veins). The scan shows the blood flow and helps the vascular service team locate any damaged valves that might be causing the varicose veins.

Source guidance

Varicose veins: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline CG168 (2013), recommendation 1.3.1 (key priority for implementation)

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement