Compression sclerotherapy for varicose veins

Abstract

Fifty-nine patients (77 lesions) with varicose veins in their legs were treated with sclerotherapy between August in 1994 and December in 1995. The patients ranged in age from 26 to 74 years (average 51 years). Females (31) outnumbered males (28). The varicose veins were morphologically classified into 3 types: saphenous (68 lesions); segmental (3 lesions); and reticular (8 lesions). Seven saphenous lesions were further subclassified into the segmental, reticular, and web types. Fourteen lesions were treated with sclerotherapy alone and the remaining 63 lesions with both sclerotherapy and high ligation. The mean follow-up period was 8.1 months (range 0.5 to 20 months). No serious postoperative complications such as pulmonary infarction occurred, although in some patients venous thrombosis, skin pigmentation, skin bullae, and hirsutism were observed. It is concluded from this series of patients that simultaneous high ligation and ligation of incompetent perforators permits a decrease in the amount of sclerosing solution used and reduces the incidence of solution-associated postoperative complications. Additionally, this technique prevents the recurrence of varicose veins. Sclerotherapy is therefore a useful treatment method for varicose veins in the leg due to the excellent effects achieved and its ease for both surgeons and patients.