Foam sclerotherapy for below knee varicosities after great saphenous ligation and stripping: Comparison of multiple injections with infusion

Abstract

AIMS: This study aimed to compare the short-term clinical results of multiple foam sclerosant injection (MFSI) and endovenous foam sclerosant perfusion (EFSP) for treating varicose veins (VV) in the lower extremities through. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 111 cases. All patients had high saphenous ligation and stripping just before the foam injection. First-stage sclerotherapy effects, sclerosant dosage, postoperative complications, and other clinical assessments were included as observation items with at least 6 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The treatment effects of the 2 VV treatment methods showed no significant difference (P 0.05). Although superficial thrombophlebitis and pigmentation occurred in both groups, the EFSP group appeared to be more prone to remission (P < 0.05), as there were no vein-puncture injuries or factors to cause local hematoma. Superficial thrombophlebitis and skin pigmentation were less in the EFSP than the MSFI group (4.4% vs. 16%; P = 0.033 and 8.8% vs. 30.2%; P = 0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Both MFSI and EPSP visibly affect VV in the lower extremities, but when complications and the simplicity and reproducibility of operation techniques are considered, EFSP appears more worthy of promotion.

Keywords

• lower extremities
• sclerotherapy
• varicose vein