title: Consensus for sclerotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) periodically develops consensus documents for its members concerning various aspects of dermatologic surgery. Unwanted and painful leg veins are a very widespread problem. Many advances in sclerotherapy of varicose and telangiectatic leg veins have occurred since the previous consensus documents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In 2013, the ASDS Board of Directors voted to have a committee of experts in the field to develop consensus documents on sclerotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An expert panel reviewed the literature on sclerotherapy and discussed the findings. A consensus was reached with evidence-based recommendations on diagnostic evaluation and treatment of varicose and telangiectatic leg veins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The consensus documents include discussion of indications for treatment, patient selection, contraindications, diagnostic testing, treatment approaches, use of compression, and expected outcome. Common sclerosants and their mechanisms of action, advantages and disadvantages of foam sclerotherapy, and minimizing and treating complications are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ASDS consensus documents on sclerotherapy will be helpful in educating their members on safe and effective sclerotherapy of varicose and telangiectatic leg veins.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Dermatology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland; †Maryland Laser, Skin & Vein Institute, Hunt Valley, Maryland; ‡Department of Dermatology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire; §Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, California; ‖Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York; ¶Department of Dermatology, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; #Department of Dermatology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Jeffrey T S
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Neil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Sadick
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Duffy
mesh_terms: D058128:Compression Bandages; D000075202:Contraindications; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012597:Sclerosing Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015911:Sclerotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D012597:Sclerosing Solutions