title: Foam sclerotherapy with Fibrovein (STD) for the treatment of hemorrhoids, using a flexible endoscope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This case study was designed to evaluate foam sclerotherapy of hemorrhoidal disease using a flexible endoscope.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 250 patients of grade II-IV hemorrhoids with Sotradecol foam. To obtain sclerosing foam, we used a special foam kit, which produced a stable and standardized sclerosing foam. The quantity of foam injected into the hemorrhoids was 1 to 2 cc with a total of 6 cc for each session. Variables to assess efficacy of treatment were: pain, bleeding and prolapse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generally, bleeding and hemorrhoidal prolapse were resolved with at most two sclerotherapy sessions. However, pain usually had disappeared after the first session. No complications such as mucosal erosions at the foam injection site, formation of abscesses, bacteraemia, or fistulas occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantages of sclerosing foam are its adhesiveness and compactness, its greater volume, its increased spasm generation, and the greater sclerosing power. Sclero-therapy with foam makes it possible to reach optimal results with small amounts of sclerosing agent and fewer risks of complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Piove di Sacco Hospital, Piove di Sacco, Padova, Italy. p.benin@tiscali.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Amico
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006484:Hemorrhoids / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020700:Proctoscopes; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate