[The treatment of varicose veins of the lower limbs: the organizational appropriateness in Italy from 1999 to 2006].

The treatment of varicose veins is a major topic for National Health Services because of high prevalence of this disease. The development of minimally invasive varicose veins surgery allowed the treatment as a day case in a hospital setting. Our research analysed the differences between day hospital and ordinary interventions for varicose veins surgery in Italy; furthermore, our research compares the trend of Day Surgery hospitalizations in Italy with the results of the English National Health System. The proportion of Day surgery interventions on the total of varicose veins interventions has considerably increased in Italy from 1999 to 2006, although the development of minimally invasive varicose veins surgery in Italy is slower compared to England. Starting from 2003 the Day Surgery treatment for ligature and stripping of varicose veins has gradually increased in Italy. This result is due to the impact of different regulatory level planning, managerial and clinical skills in hospital setting favouring the development of alternative treatments to the ordinary hospitalization.