Follow-up of varicose veins with incompetent great saphenous veintreated with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy / 中华超声影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To assess the clinical outcome of varicose veins with incompetent great saphenous vein(GSV) treated with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy. Methods Forty limbs with moderate to severe symptomatic varicose veins with incompetent GSV in 38 patients were injected with foam sclerosing agent (Fibro-Vein) under ultrasound guidance. There were 36 patients with unilateral varicose veins and 2 with bilateral varicose veins. No of them suffered from deep vein incompetence or perforating vein incompetence. Second injection was performed one month after the initial injection in 7 limbs. Thirty-eight of 40 limbs were followed up with clinical examination and duplex ultrasound scan 30-47 months (mean 40 months) after the treatment. Results Among 38 limbs with follow-up mild debilitation was found in two limbs(5. 3%). There were no other symptoms or complications. Duplex ultrasound demonstrated four type of results: type I, sclerosed GSV trunk with no detectable venous flow in 32 of 38 limbs (84. 2%) ;type II,patent GSV trunk in 3 limbs (7. 9%) ,two of them had mild reflux in the GSV trunk;type III,sclerosed GSV trunk and mild reflux in the GSV tributaries, 1/38(2. 6%) ; type IV,sclerosed proximal GSV trunk,patent distal GSV communicated with a superficial vein and mild reflux in the veins, 2/38 (5. 3% ). Conclusions Clinical examination and duplex ultrasound scan demonstrated excellent results of varicose veins with incompetent GSV treated with ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy 40 months after the treatment. Sclerotherapy is less invasive treatment option for varicose veins with incompetent GSV with satisfactory clinical and cosmetic outcome.