Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for treating incompetent great saphenous veins--results of 5 years of analysis and morphologic evolvement study.

Background: Varicose veins of the lower leg is a common disease and is associated with long-term morbidity. It has been treated using high ligation with stripping and endovenous laser surgery of the great saphenous vein (GSV).

Objectives: To investigate the clinical outcomes of GSV insufficiency after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) using 3% sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS).

Methods: Between 2005 and 2009, patients with symptomatic varicose veins secondary to GSV insufficiency were enrolled; 3% STS foam was injected into the GSV under ultrasound visualization. Ultrasound examinations and clinical follow-up were performed at 3- to 6-month intervals. Follow-up visits continued through April 2011.

Results: Two hundred 88 limbs of 233 patients were enrolled. The mean follow-up interval was 37.8 months. Occlusion was achieved for 89.6% of the incompetent veins in two sessions of UGFS. The mean number of therapy sessions per leg was 1.53. The internal diameters of the treated veins reduced to 66.9% 3 months and 32.7% at 12 months.

Conclusions: UGFS is effective in sealing incompetent GSV segments. It is a minimally invasive procedure and can be redone several times in cases of recurrence. UGFS is simpler and less painful than stripping surgery and endovenous laser treatment.