title: Study on thrombus formation and the course of healing after sclerotherapy for varicose veins of the leg (preliminary report).
abstract: Varicose veins of the leg with saphenous trunk incompetence have been treated surgically. However, recently we have switched to sclerotherapy, and the preliminary results have been satisfactory. We examined varicosities in the leg by color-coded duplex scanning to evaluate venous incompetence and the results of sclerotherapy. Our sclerotherapy procedure was performed as follows: the varicosed branches were punctured and less than 5 ml of 3% polidocanol was injected with the patient's legs raised; an elastic bandage was applied for 3-7 days. Before sclerotherapy, saphenous incompetence was detected in 31 out of 32 limbs. One to two weeks after sclerotherapy, 22 limbs with greater saphenous trunk incompetence were re-examined. The saphenous trunk was occluded with thrombus and saphenous incompetence had diminished in 16 limbs, and there was excellent sclerosis of the distal varicosities. The saphenous trunk was not sclerosed in six limbs. The varicosity was sclerosed in two out of these six limbs. We followed up the healing course of the saphenous vein thrombosis in nine limbs for up to 6 months. Six recanalizations of the saphenous veins were observed, however, clinically the distal varicosity did not recur in any of these limbs. Sclerotherapy appears to be a clinically useful method capable of replacing surgery.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D015911:Sclerotherapy; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols