Varicose Vein Sclerotherapy

A special category of veins that are treated very effectively in this way are varicose veins or small varicose veins. Sclerotherapyis the minimally invasive method of treating these small veins by direct injection of sclerosing drugs into their lumen. No anesthesia is required and the treatment is performed in office sessions. Through the injection of the sclerosing substance, an irreversible chemical injury is essentially caused to the endothelium (i.e. the inner wall of the veins) resulting in their lumen closing.

In very small – almost capillary – veins, the sclerosing drug is directly injected in the form of a liquid solution. In larger varicose veins, the treatment is followed by an injection of the sclerosing drug in the form of foam for better results. The foam is an admixture of the sclerosing drug with air.

The treatment is mainly performed in the cold months to avoid complications from heat and direct exposure to the sun. The main contraindications to the treatment are pregnancy, lactation, thrombophilia, severe peripheral arteriosclerosis, as well as the use of contraceptives (hormone therapy). Related contraindications are diabetes mellitus, anticoagulant therapy and allergic bronchial asthma.

In case of numerous veins, the treatment is performed in more than one session, spaced at least 2 weeks apart. This is because the maximum safe dose of the sclerosant that can be used in one session is specific. The great advantages of the treatment are the lack of anesthesia and the immediate return of the patient to his daily life.

A very basic prerequisite for starting this treatment is that a thorough clinical and ultrasound examination of the superficial and deep venous system of the lower extremities has been performed and that thrombosis or insufficiency has been ruled out.