Sclerotherapy treatment of telangiectasias and varicose veins

Telangiectasias and/or varicose veins are present in about 33% of adult women and 15% of adult men. Although they may be only of cosmetic concern, superficial varices often cause significant symptoms such as pain, aching, heaviness, and pruritus. Venous ulceration is commonly caused solely by superficial venous insufficiency. Superficial thin-walled veins may rupture and hemorrhage. Sclerotherapy is a nonsurgical procedure that can be used to treat both small and large varices of the superficial venous system and perforators. This involves injecting a sclerosant intraluminally to cause fibrosis and eventual obliteration of a vein. The most common sclerosants used in the U.S. include sodium tetradecyl sulfate, polidocanol, 23.4% saline, and a combination of 25% dextrose with 10% saline. Treatment generally proceeds from proximal to distal and largest to smallest vein, based on a reflux map developed from physical examination, Doppler, and duplex ultrasound. Sclerotherapy results can be optimized and the risk of complications minimized by choosing the proper sclerosant, sclerosant concentration, sclerosant volume, and injection sites for the vein(s) being treated. Post-treatment instructions, particularly compression and ambulation, are designed to improve the results and safety of sclerotherapy. Adequate understanding of an appropriate history and physical, ultrasound evaluation, anatomy, pathophysiology, knowledge of sclerosing solutions, patient selection, and post-treatment care, as well as the ability to prevent, recognize, and treat complications are required before embarking on treatment.