Reasons for ulceration after injection treatment of telangiectasia.
BACKGROUND
Sclerotherapy of telangiectasias is widely used for their treatment, but causes skin ulceration in 0.2-1.2% of patients. The cause of this complication is still unclear.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that an arteriole is occluded because the sclerosant gets into an arteriovenous (AV) shunt. We have looked for these communications underneath the telangiectasias.


METHODS
Doppler examination was performed in 155 cases above the telangiectasias to reveal the presence of an AV shunt. Twenty-two positive sites were excised and histologically screened for AV shunts.


RESULTS
Pulsatile sound could be detected by Doppler transducer above spider veins in 112 cases (72.2%). Of the 22 Doppler-positive telangiectasias, 19 AV microshunts could be found histologically.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the mechanism of this complication can lead to its prevention. No more than 0.2 ml of sclerosant should be administered to a single site. The warning sign of backwash of sclerosant into arterials is the temporary blanching of the skin from the arterial spasm.
Bihari
I
I
Cardio-Vascular Surgical Department, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Magyar E
D000328:Adult; D001163:Arteriovenous Anastomosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler