title: An investigation on the influence of glycerin on sclerosant foam stability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Foam sclerotherapy is an increasingly popular modality in the treatment of varicose veins. Foam stability varies according to foam composition, volume and injection technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A disposable plastic connector was used to create foam from 0.50% sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) mixed with varying volumes of glycerin. As a measure of foam stability, the half liquid time was defined as the time required for half of the original volume of sclerosing solution to settle. Three recordings were determined for each of the three mixtures of sclerosant foam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time for sclerosing solution to settle to half of its initial volume was found to be 89 seconds for 0.50% STS alone, 117.7 seconds with the addition of 0.1 mL of 72% glycerin, and 114.7 seconds with the addition of 0.2 mL of 72% glycerin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small volumes of glycerin added to STS prolonged the half liquid time of STS foam up to 35%. As glycerin alone is unable to be foamed with the double-syringe system technique there may be a point at which further addition of glycerin has a negative effect on the half-life of foam.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology and Laser Surgery Centre, 6400 Fannin Ste, Ste 2290, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D004355:Drug Stability; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000628:therapy; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; D005990:Glycerol; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate