Sclerotherapy of varicose veins

With foam sclerotherapy, an air-polidocanol mixture is injected into the varicose vein as a fine-bubble foam to attain a greater contact area with the vein wall. Larger veins can also be treated in this way.

Benefits of the procedure in detail:

• The sclerotherapy foam has greater efficacy than the liquid sclerosing agent upon which it is based
  
  
• The foam remains in the vessel for longer, the liquid agent is washed away much more quickly: the chemical effect on the vessel wall is intensified with the use of foamed sclerosing agent
  
  
• It is visible in ultrasound and can therefore be administered in a controlled manner in larger vessels (ultrasonic sclerotherapy)

This procedure is particularly applicable for lateral branches of larger veins that are still open after the operation or radio wave treatment. However, foam sclerotherapy is also particularly applicable for the primary sealing of such veins. As with classical vein sclerotherapy, a medical compression stocking must be worn for several days after the treatment.

Foam sclerotherapy is less suitable in the following situations:

• For the treatment of very large saphenous veins with large vessel diameter
  
  
• For sclerotherapy of very fine veins such as spider veins
  
  
• In 15-20 % of cases, unsightly discoloration (pigmentation) or discernible hardening can occur. These spontaneously vanish after several months.