Sclerotherapy

Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy (sometimes called echo sclerotherapy), is an alternative to surgical stripping and is sometimes used in addition to the VenaCure EVLT™ system. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a chemical solution (sclerosant) into a targeted vein to cause it to collapse.

Sclerotherapy, which can be performed in an outpatient setting, is usually used to treat veins in the early stages of disease, possibly avoiding further complications. It is commonly used to treat larger veins that can’t be seen below the surface of the skin that would otherwise require surgical removal. Sclerotherapy is also used to treat reticular veins, which are medium-sized and carry blood to capillaries in the skin. Like varicose veins, the thin walls of reticular veins can expand under excessive pressure and become painful.

The procedure involves using a tiny needle to inject the liquid sclerosant into the surface vein. The type and strength of sclerosant depends on the size and location of the veins being treated. The chemical irritates the lining of the vein, shutting it down. The vein is eventually absorbed by the body and is no longer visible through the skin. The number of treatment sessions needed ranges from one to several, depending on the number of veins and areas being addressed.

Risks of ultrasound guided sclerotherapy include minimal discomfort, bruising and skin discoloration (hyperpigmentation), skin ulceration, superficial phlebitis (inflammation), deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), and an allergic reaction to the sclerosant. Bruising typically disappears within two weeks; hyperpigmentation generally fades within months. Medical grade support hose or elastic bandages may be prescribed and worn for several days or weeks; the pressure they provide helps with healing. Patients usually return to their normal activities immediately following treatment.

Unlike the VenaCure EVLT procedure, sclerotherapy does not treat the underlying disease of venous reflux. Success rates are much lower than the success rate of the VenaCure EVLT system. Sclerotherapy often requires multiple treatments, while the VenaCure EVLT procedure typically requires only one.

[Source: http://www.phlebology.org/patientinfo/treatment.html]