Comparing ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy with surgical treatment in patients of varicose veins

Abstract

Background: Venous disorders of lower limbs are frequently encountered problem. This study compares conventional surgery and (UGFS) ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy for treatment of varicose vein. Methods: This study was conducted over a period of 18 months. Minimum of 50 patients with primary varicose vein due to SFJ (saphenofemoral junction) incompetence were selected and randomly assigned in each arm i.e. surgical and foam sclerotherapy. Results: Mean age of patients was 35.32 (p = 1) in both groups. Overall more than 90% of patients were male. Mean venous clinical severity score (VSCC) score dropped from7.84 to 1.72 (p <0.001) in surgery and 7.48 to 1.40 (p <0.001) in foam group at 3 month. Mean venous disability score (VDS) dropped from1.40 to 0.00 (p <0.001) in surgery and 1.36 to 0.20 (p <0.000) in foam group. Average procedure time was 103.2 min surgery and 29 min in foam group (p <0.001). Complications in both groups were comparable. Mean hospital stay was 31 hours in surgery and 2 hours (p <0.001) in foam group. Both groups shows 100% obliteration rate 0% pathological reflux at 1 month post treatment colour duplex. Mean time to return to normal activity was 9.88 days in surgery and 1 day (p <0.001) in foam group. Mean analgesic use was 4.46 days in surgery and 0.46 in foam group. Conclusions: Foam sclerotherapy come up as safe, promising and reliable method of treatment of varicose vein with ease of administration, no hospital stay, no risk of anesthesia, no interference to daily activity, immediate return to work and equally effective as surgery.