title: Duplex ultrasound outcomes following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy of symptomatic recurrent great saphenous varicose veins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe duplex ultrasound (DUS) outcomes 12 months following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) of recurrent great saphenous varicose veins (GSVV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of UK National Health Service patients underwent serial DUS examinations following UGFS with 3% sodium tetradecyl sulphate for symptomatic recurrent GSVV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  91 treated legs (CEAP C(2/3) 58, C(4) 21, C(5) 8, C(6) 4) belonging to 73 patients (24 male) of median age 58 (range 32-86) years were enrolled between November 2004 and May 2007. The median volume of foam used was 8 (range 4-14) ml. Above-knee (AK) and below-knee (BK) GSV reflux was present in 88 (97%) and 80 (88%) legs respectively prior to treatment. AK and BK-GSV reflux was completely eradicated by a single session of UGFS in 86 (98%) and 74 (93%) legs respectively; and by two sessions of UGFS in 88 (100%) and 77 (97%) legs respectively. In those legs where GSV reflux had been eradicated, recanalisation occurred in 7/78 (9%) AK and 8/68 (12%) BK-GSV segments after 12 months follow-up. Retreatment, where undertaken, with a single UGFS session effectively eradicated all GSV reflux in all cases of recanalisation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single session of UGFS can eradicate reflux in the AK and BK-GSV in over 93% of patients with symptomatic recurrent GSVV. Re-recurrence at 12 months is superior to that reported after redo GSV surgery, similar to that observed following other minimally-invasive techniques and, when it occurs, is effectively and simply treated by a single further session of UGFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Birmingham University, Heart of England NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK. katydarvall@btinternet.com
authors.forename: K A L
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Darvall
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bate
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bradbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions; D012981:Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate