Vascular Surgery
| Condition | Recommended return to non-manual | Recommended return to manual | Factors affecting return to work |
| Unilateral varicose veins - foam sclerotherapy | 2-3 days[2] | 5 days[2] | Early activity encouraged, so prolonged absence can be harmful |
| Unilateral varicose veins - open surgery | 7-10 days[1][2] | 2-3 weeks[1][2] | Less if laser ablation used |
| Bilateral varicose veins | 7-14 days[1] | 2-4 weeks[1] | |
| Aortic aneurysm grafting � open | 2-3 months[1] | Longer, unlikely[1] | |
| 4-6 months[2] | Unlikely | multiple morbidities likely to prolong recovery | |
| Aortic aneurysm endovascular graft | 5-7 days[1] | 2-4 weeks[1] | US/CT scan annually. Multiple morbidities likely to prolong recovery |
| 2 weeks[2] | |||
| Aorto-iliac and bifemoral grafting | 2-3 months[1] | Longer, unlikely[1] | Most patients having vascular reconstruction as a last resort, are near or post-retirement age and have multiple morbities such as diabetes which prolong recovery times substantially |
| Femoro-popliteal bypass | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | |
| 2 months[2] | 3 months[2] | ||
| Peripheral angioplasty with or without stenting | 1-2 weeks[1][2] | 2-3 weeks[1][2] | |
| Carotid endarterectomy | 2-3 weeks[1] | 2-3 weeks[1] | Psychological impact of surgery can be substantial and may delay recovery |
| 2-5 weeks | 4-8 weeks | ||
| [1] Samuel AM, Wellwood JMcK. Fitness for work after surgery. In Palmer KT, Cox RAF and Brown I. (Eds) Fitness for Work 4th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2007 pp 467-486. | |||
| [2] Consensus from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | |||
Recommendations based on formal analysis of evidence are in red. Where only some evidence is available, the figures are in blue, and the relevant references are provided. Consensus-based guidelines are in black.