title: The use of foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins: a survey of the members of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to explore the current experience and practice of vascular surgeons in the United Kingdom and Ireland regarding foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  A postal questionnaire was sent to 609 members of the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 281 responses (47%). Seventy surgeons (25%) used foam sclerotherapy. Most use it selectively; few (29%) offer it to all patients. It was more likely to be used for recurrent varices (71%), in older patients (61%) and for smaller non-saphenous varices (67%). The majority of surgeons (69%) used sodium tetradecyl sulphate and up to a maximum of 10-12 ml of foam. The majority used ultrasound guidance (95%), leg elevation (69%) and direct pressure over the saphenofemoral or saphenopopliteal junction during injection (63%). Eighty per cent used compression bandaging after treatment, usually for 7 days (44%). Ninety percent advised compression stockings, usually Class II (64%) for 14 days (39%). Serious complications were few, but eleven surgeons had seen a deep vein thrombosis, two had seen a patient with a stroke and one a transient ischaemic attack.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Foam sclerotherapy was used by a quarter of surgeons who replied to the survey. Aspects of technique varied considerably and studies to determine optimal techniques are needed. Serious complications with the technique were rare.
authors.affiliation: Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: O'Hare
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Earnshaw
mesh_terms: D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053828:Stockings, Compression / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D000077423:Polidocanol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate