Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for chronic venous disease with ulcer. A prospective multiple outcome cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) is the main cause of chronic leg ulcers. Varicose veins are the most frequent cause of venous leg ulcers (VLU). 50.9% of Brazilian women have varicose veins and ulcer prevalence is as high as 4%. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) is a low-cost treatment option for varicose veins. OBJECTIVES: To analyze UGFS outcomes in patients with VLU. METHODS: Prospective consecutive single center cohort study. Patients with great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux and VLU were treated and followed-up for 180 days. The following were studied: quality of life (QoL), disease severity, healing, and elimination of GSV reflux. The Aberdeen questionnaire, a venous clinical severity score, and Duplex scanning (DS) results were analyzed. RESULTS: 22 patients aged 35 to 70 years were treated. There was improvement in quality of life, disease severity reduced, and ulcer diameter reduced (p < 0.001; ANOVA). 77.27% of VLU healed completely (95%CI: 59.76-94.78%). The dimensions of 20/22 VLU reduced (90.91%; 95%CI: 78.9-100%). GSV reflux was eliminated in 63.64% (95%CI: 43.54-83.74%). Men had greater QoL benefit and women had more complications. There were no severe complications. The VLU that had healed completely at the end of the study were smaller at baseline than those that did not completely heal. The GSV that were completely occluded at the end of the study were smaller at baseline than those that were not completely occluded (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that most patients benefited from UGFS.

CONTEXTO: A doença venosa crônica (DVC) é a principal causa de úlceras crônicas em membros inferiores. As varizes dos membros inferiores são a causa mais frequente de úlcera venosa (UV). No Brasil, 50,9% das mulheres têm varizes e a prevalência da úlcera chega a 4%. A escleroterapia ecoguiada com espuma (EEE) é uma alternativa de baixo custo para tratamento de varizes de membros inferiores. OBJETIVOS: Analisar evolução de portadores de UV tratados com EEE. MÉTODOS: Coorte prospectiva e consecutiva em um único serviço. Portadores de UV com veia safena magna (VSM) insuficiente foram acompanhados por 180 dias após EEE. Foram estudadas: qualidade de vida, gravidade da doença, cicatrização e eliminação do refluxo. Foram utilizados questionário Aberdeen, escore clínico venoso e ultrassom Doppler. RESULTADOS: Foram tratados 22 pacientes com idade entre 35 a 70 anos. Houve melhora na qualidade de vida, redução da gravidade da doença, e redução dos diâmetros das úlceras (p < 0.001; ANOVA). Houve redução das dimensões em 90,91% das úlceras [intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) 78,9-100%], e cicatrização completa em 77,27% (IC95% 59,76-94,78%). O refluxo foi eliminado em 63,64% (IC95% 43,54-83,74%) das VSM. Homens tiveram maior benefício em qualidade de vida, e mulheres apresentaram mais complicações. Não houve complicações graves. As UV completamente cicatrizadas e as VSM que apresentaram oclusão completa apresentavam dimensões inicialmente menores quando comparadas às das UV não completamente cicatrizadas e das VSM não completamente ocluídas (p < 0,05; Mann-Whitney). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que EEE foi benéfica para a maioria dos pacientes.

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for severe chronic venous insufficiency.

Chronic venous insufficiency is characterized by cutaneous alterations caused by venous hypertension; in severe forms, it progresses to lower limb ulcers. Lower limb varicose veins are the main cause of chronic venous insufficiency, and the classic treatment includes surgery and compressive therapy. Minimally invasive alternative treatments for varicose veins include new techniques such as venous thermal ablation using laser or radiofrequency. The use of different methods depends on clinical and anatomical factors. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is the venous injection of sclerosing foam controlled by Doppler ultrasound. Sclerotherapy is very useful to treat varicose veins, and probably, is cheaper than other methods. However, until the present, it is the less studied method.

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for severe chronic venous insufficiency / Escleroterapia ecoguiada com espuma para tratamento da insuficiência venosa crônica grave

ABSTRACT Chronic venous insufficiency is characterized by cutaneous alterations caused by venous hypertension; in severe forms, it progresses to lower limb ulcers. Lower limb varicose veins are the main cause of chronic venous insufficiency, and the classic treatment includes surgery and compressive therapy. Minimally invasive alternative treatments for varicose veins include new techniques such as venous thermal ablation using laser or radiofrequency. The use of different methods depends on clinical and anatomical factors. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is the venous injection of sclerosing foam controlled by Doppler ultrasound. Sclerotherapy is very useful to treat varicose veins, and probably, is cheaper than other methods. However, until the present, it is the less studied method.

RESUMO A insuficiência venosa crônica é caracterizada por alterações cutâneas decorrentes da hipertensão venosa que, nas formas graves, evoluem com úlceras nos membros inferiores. As varizes dos membros inferiores são a causa mais frequente de insuficiência venosa crônica, que tem como tratamentos clássicos a cirurgia de varizes e a terapia compressiva. Novas técnicas de termo-ablação venosa por laser e radiofrequência são alternativas minimamente invasivas para o tratamento de varizes. A aplicabilidade dos diferentes métodos é limitada por requisitos anatômicos e clínicos. A escleroterapia ecoguiada com espuma consiste na injeção endovenosa da espuma esclerosante monitorada pelo Ultrassom Doppler. A escleroterapia tem grande aplicabilidade para tratamento das varizes e, provavelmente, é mais barato que outros métodos. Entretanto é, até o momento, o método menos estudado.