Catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy of incompetent saphenous reflux: early results

Abstract

To describe observation of availability of catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy for the great saphenous vein varicosis. A selective series of 30 patients of vein varicosis were treated with foam sclerotherapy using a standard technique for foam delivery from April 2008 to August 2008. Patients were treated with 1% polidocanol foam through a catheter, which was inserted percutaneously over a guidewire in the great saphenous vein (GSV). All successfully treated patients were examined by colour duplex two weeks after the procedure. Thirty patients with an insufficiency reflux of the GSV were treated with the catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy. Primary technical success was achieved in all the patients. The concentrations (1.0%) and doses (6 to 8 ml) of polidocanol was mainly we used. Five patients experienced transient scotomas and developed segmental phlebitis of a collateral vein. The intervention was well tolerated in all patients without the occurrence of serious side effects. In 27 of the 30 treated patients (90%), a closure of the GSV was found at control visits 2 weeks, 3 months after treatment. The use of an endovascular catheter inserted percutaneously over a guidewire is feasible in most patients and has resulted in high primary occlusion rates.