title: Sclerotherapy of telangiectasias: a painless two-step technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sclerotherapy of telangiectasias and reticular leg veins can be unpleasant and painful for some patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine pain level with two different sclerotherapy techniques in a prospective randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with symmetrical telangiectasias and reticular veins on both legs (C(1A) or (S)E(P)A(S)P(N1) were randomized to the standard (successive injections of chromated glycerin mixed with one-third lidocaine-epinephrine 1%) or two-step technique (first treating only reticular veins with a single injection at the base of each cluster of telangiectasias and then successively injecting all remaining telangiectasias a few minutes later. Pain was assessed using a 100-point visual analogue scale (0 = no pain, 100 = maximum pain).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 53 consecutive patients could be evaluated. The two-step technique was significantly less painful (28.2) than the standard technique (40.6, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two-step technique with chromated glycerin mixed with one-third lidocaine-epinephrine 1% significantly reduces sclerotherapy pain. This may be a useful technique for patients who are particularly sensitive or afraid of sclerotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Service of Angiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland. phkern@bluewin.ch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005990:Glycerol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012997:Solvents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008012:Lidocaine; D005990:Glycerol; D004837:Epinephrine