Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy: factors associated with outcomes and complications.
OBJECTIVE
In recent years ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) has become an increasingly popular treatment for varicose veins. Although many published series detail the results of UGFS, little is known about the factors which are associated with outcomes and complications. The aim of this study was to identify these factors.


METHODS
A review of a prospectively collected database of UGFS which commenced in July 2007.


METHODS
A successful outcome was defined as complete occlusion of the target vein on duplex scanning at follow-up. Eight factors were assessed to determine whether they were associated with outcomes and complications. These factors were age, gender, compliance with post-procedure compression hosiery, previous varicose vein surgery, single or multiple sites of injection, concentration of sclerosant, volume of sclerosant and pre-procedure severity score.


RESULTS
Between July 2007 and July 2009, a total of 126 patients (60 men, 66 women) attended follow-up visits and had a post-procedure duplex scan. Targets for UGFS included the great saphenous vein (n = 75), small saphenous vein (n = 13) and anterior accessory great saphenous vein (n = 8). The remainder of procedures involved other veins or more than a single target vein. The median timing of follow-up was 3 months (range 1.5-14 months) with duplex scans revealing complete occlusion of the target vein in 79% of patients. The only factor associated with a successful outcome was compliance with post-procedure compression hosiery (p < 0.05). The most frequently encountered complications following UGFS were skin staining (28%), superficial thrombophlebitis (18%) and pain (14%). The only factor associated with post-UGFS complications was female gender (p < 0.05). When complications were analysed in isolation female gender was also significantly associated with skin staining (p < 0.05), but no other complication.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that compliance with post-procedure compression hosiery and gender are important factors associated with a successful outcome and reported complications following UGFS, respectively.
Thomasset
S C
SC
Department of Vascular Surgery, King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire NG17 4JL, UK.
Butt
Z
Z
Liptrot
S
S
Fairbrother
B J
BJ
Makhdoomi
K R
KR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D012597:Sclerosing Solutions