title: Catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy treatment of saphenous vein incompetence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to report the short-term results of catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy (CDFS) in the treatment of axial saphenous vein incompetence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of all patients undergoing CDFS for symptomatic primary incompetence of the great or small saphenous vein were prospectively collected. Treatment results in terms of occlusion rate and patients' grade of satisfaction were analysed. All successfully treated patients underwent clinical and duplex follow-up examinations one year postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between September 2006 and September 2010, 357 limbs (337 patients) were treated with CDFS at our institution. Based on the CEAP classification, 64 were allocated to clinical class C3 , 128 to class C4, 102 to class C5 and 63 to class C6. Of the 188 patients who completed the one year follow up examination, 67 % had a complete and 14 % a near complete obliteration of the treated vessel. An ulcer-healing rate of 54 % was detected. 92 % of the patients were satisfied with the results of treatment. We registered six cases of thrombophlebitis and two cases of venous thromboembolism, all requiring treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short-term results of CDFS in patients with axial vein incompetence are acceptable in terms of occlusion and complications rates.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Sweden and Vascular Center Malmö-Lund, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asciutto
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindblad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions