You do not have to have surgery to treat Varicose Veins!
One is ultrasound guided sclerotherapy (UGS). The same ultrasound machine that is used to map the veins is used to help guide a very fine needle into the varicose vein and the sclerosing solution is injected directly into the vein, so a small dose is used to treat a large section of vein. It is accurate. With the advance of ultrasound it is now possible to treat all sizes of variocse veins with sclerotherapy.
Why use Ultrsound guiding and foam sclerotherapy for large veins treatments?
The complete vein problem can be diagosed before treatment starts.
Less medication is required and fewer sessions are generally needed.
Injections are more accurately placed and more easily placed.
Medication can be followed along the vein, ensuring that as much vein as possible is exposed to the sclerosant foam. The effectiveness of treatment can be assessed from one treatment to another.
More accurate follow-up can be made.
Procedure information
The procedure has been performed for approximately 15 years. The procedure may be suitable for those people who have had a recurrence of their problems after surgery, do not want surgery, cannot afford surgery or cannot take time off work to recover from surgery. Not everyone is suitable for sclerotherapy. The success rate of the procedure compares favourably to many published results of surgical treatment.
Prior to the procedure, a full Doppler Ultrasound scan of your leg/s is done. This examination is called a mapping scan. This will clarify any difficult areas if necessary and the treatment required. The procedure is then performed with you lying on the treatment couch. The ultrasound scanner is used to locate the abnormal vein and then fine needle is guided to the centre of the vein and a precise amount of sclerosant solution is injected into the vein. The procedure involves minimal discomfort. Usually several injections are required.
The sclerosant solution is injected and causes a reaction inside the vein that starts changes aimed at closing the vein off. In order to stretch the maximum dose of scelosanct over further treatment areas, often a foam is created by mixing the sclerosant with air. You may experience an occasional flu-like symptoms about 4-6 hours after your treatment that will settle with Paracetamol.
10-20% of people will need to have a follow-up treatment for a satisfactory result. If you have more than one deep vein that needs treatment, or very large veins, you are more likely to need a follow-up treatment, usually performed at the three month follow up visit (very large veins have a 40% chance of requiring more than 1 treatment).
Following the procedure you are required to wear the graduated venous compression stocking for 2 weeks. It is essential that you walk for 30 minutes immediately after the procedure and it is a good idea to walk for 30 minutes several times per day for the first 3 days following treatment (or whenever the leg aches). You must walk for at least 30 minutes on each day that the stocking is on.
It is usual for there to be some tenderness, lumpiness, hardness and bruising/discolouration along the line of the treated veins. If there are specific hard lumps close to the skin surface it may be necessary to have these drained by a small needle puncture. This is usually done after 2-4 weeks. Any deeper lumps that still remain will dissolve over time but this may take several months. In some people the treated veins may become more sore 1-6 weeks after treatment.
TREATMENTS
