Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of recurrent varices of the great and small saphenous vein: 5-year follow up

Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) proved to be effective in recurrent varices. In this observational study from 2006 and 2012 we treated 142 neovascularization, 155 inguinal recurrence and 28 popliteal recurrent varices. For neovascularization 0.3-0.5% polidocanol (POL) sclerosant foam (SF) was injected for vein having diameter <3 mm and 0.5-1% POL or sodium tetradecylsulphate (STS) SF for higher vein diameters. The patients with residual sapheno-femoral or sapheno-popliteal junctions were treated with 1% STS SF for diameter up to 5 mm, while for larger veins 3% STS was used. From 1 to 3 sessions were necessary in both groups with 4 to 10 ml injected per session. In the group of neovascularization the 3-5years follow up revealed good results in 90.8% of the cases. In the group of popliteal recurrences the 3-5 years follow up showed 60.7% of good results, while in the group of inguinal recurrences we observed 80% of good results at 3-5 years. We did not have major complication. As minor complications we had 0.2% of gastrocnemial vein thrombosis, 0.1% of minor neurological problems, 2.8% of superficial vein thrombosis, 3.9% of pigmentation and light to mild post-treatment pain in 16.5% of the cases. In conclusion our data show that UGFS is a well tolerate technique, preferred by previously operated patients, safe and easily repeatable with good medium-term results both in case of neovascularization and of recurrence from residual femoral or popliteal stump.