However, an exact definition of the geriatric patient is not available in the medical more information literature (15�C17). Various publications differ in the age defined, which may be 60, 65 or 70 years; there are even studies placing it around 80 years (18, 19). Stripping the GSV is routine practice for many surgeons to strip the great saphenous vein (GSV) after femoral-saphenous junction (SFJ) ligation. Stripping the GSV exposes the patient to a greater risk of nerve injury and increased morbidity from pain, bruising and haematoma formation in the thigh. These disadvantages are felt to be outweighed by the benefit of a reduction in the development of recurrent varicose veins. Stripping of the GSV is postulated to reduce recurrence by preventing neovascularization in the groin joining up with the residual trunk of the GSV in the upper thigh and producing significant GSV reflux in the lower limb.

Complications (major and minor) are reported in approximately 18�C20% of patients having standard varicose vein surgery (20, 21). Major complication rates are reported in around 0.8% of patients (22). Wound complications, including infection, haematoma and abscess formation, reported rates vary from 3�C10% (23, 24). In our study, we found no differences between elderly and younger patients with regard to postoperative morbidity and recurrence. The p value was non-significant and this suggests the safety and the efficacy of the saphenectomy among elderly subjects. Conclusion Elective saphenectomy has a good outcome also in the elderly patients.

The slightly higher rate of complications that occurred in older patients is not significant and does not support advising against the use of this surgical approach in the elderly. So in our opinion saphenectomy is quite safe and feasible also in patients over 65 years.
The goal of a surgical residency program is to prepare the trainee to function as qualified practitioner of surgery at the advanced level of performance of a board-certified surgeon (1). Adequate exposure and practice in the operating room is critical to the development of technical skills and surgical judgment, which a resident requires to ultimately practice competently and independently (2). The outpatient surgical procedures have to be taken into consideration as the ideal training for young surgeon in a residency program (3).

More in detail, these procedures give to the young surgeon the opportunity to develop several skills obtaining similar results than those performed by expert surgeons (4). Most common surgical procedures in our department that the resident surgeon can perform are inguinal hernia repair, saphenectomy, excision of pilonidal sinus and Drug_discovery haemorrhoidectomy. The aim of our study is to evaluate which of these surgical procedures can be considered the ideal teaching procedure for a young surgeon. Materials and methods Study design This is a retrospective study.