Precision Treatment for Superficial and Hidden Veins
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is an injection of a medicine directly into the problematic vein. In this procedure, small needles provide access to the vein so a medicine called a sclerosing agent can be injected into the vein's interior wall. This substance causes the vein to become sticky and seal shut. The blood is forced to flow in a healthy path back to the heart. There is little risk of complication, and patients often experience relief of symptoms within two months.
Sclerotherapy at a Glance
- What it is: "An injection of a medicine directly into the problematic vein."
- How it works: "This substance causes the vein to become sticky and seal shut."
- The Process: "Small needles provide access to the vein" for injection of the sclerosing agent.
- Expected Results: "Patients often experience relief of symptoms within two months."
Sclerotherapy can be performed either with ultrasound guidance or light assistance. Both are safe and effective procedures that eliminate the need for traditional surgical removal of veins.
Safe and Effective Precision Techniques
Light-Assisted Sclerotherapy
Light-assisted sclerotherapy is used to treat veins just below the skin's surface. These reticular veins are responsible for feeding the veins that are visible on the surface of the skin. During light-assisted sclerotherapy, a small, hand-held light illuminates the veins and tissue directly below the patient's skin. This allows the physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to clearly identify the source of the dysfunction and begin sclerotherapy.
Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is performed under the guidance of ultrasound. It is reserved for areas where leaking veins are not visible through the skin with light assistance. This procedure is often used to treat perforator veins, or veins that connect the superficial system (above the muscles in your leg) to the deep system (veins under and between the muscles of the leg). Perforator veins that leak and cause venous insufficiency can result in end-stage venous disease including skin ulcers and must be treated at the source of the dysfunction.
Choosing the Right Sclerosant
Although this is a safe procedure, complications are possible. You should always do a thorough overview of risk and benefits with your provider prior to treatment. Also, clarify that your physician is using a modern sclerosant such as polidocanol, as some sclerosants used in the past were less comfortable upon injection and had worse side effects. Foam sclerotherapy is the mixture of liquid and air prior to injection. Although foam sclerosant may be more effective, research is still preliminary and risks need to be further evaluated. Foam sclerotherapy treatment will likely receive FDA approval in the future, however, for now it is safest to confirm that your physician is using a liquid sclerosant alone. If you choose foam sclerotherapy, you should be fully informed about the known risks.
Learn About Your Options
If you are experiencing leg discomfort or ulcers, or if you are interested in stopping the progression of varicose veins, the Vein Healthcare Center provides services for patients in Maine, New England, and surrounding communities. Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen is a certified phlebologist who provides complete medical care for your symptoms using the very best of today's treatment options.
Visit the American College of Phlebology to understand more about venous disease, its symptoms, and its treatment.