Foam sclerotherapy for below knee varicosities after great saphenous ligation and stripping: Comparison of multiple injections with infusion

Abstract

AIMS: This study aimed to compare the short-term clinical results of multiple foam sclerosant injection (MFSI) and endovenous foam sclerosant perfusion (EFSP) for treating varicose veins (VV) in the lower extremities through.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study included 111 cases. All patients had high saphenous ligation and stripping just before the foam injection. First-stage sclerotherapy effects, sclerosant dosage, postoperative complications, and other clinical assessments were included as observation items with at least 6 months of follow-up.RESULTS: The treatment effects of the 2 VV treatment methods showed no significant difference (P < 0.05) during primary closure. However, EFSP requires a lower sclerosant dosage, resulting in a lower occurrence of thrombophlebitis than that with MFSI (P < 0.05). In the follow-up period, no significant difference in recurrence rate was found between the groups (P > 0.05). Although superficial thrombophlebitis and pigmentation occurred in both groups, the EFSP group appeared to be more prone to remission (P < 0.05), as there were no vein-puncture injuries or factors to cause local hematoma. Superficial thrombophlebitis and skin pigmentation were less in the EFSP than the MSFI group (4.4% vs. 16%; P = 0.033 and 8.8% vs. 30.2%; P = 0.004, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: Both MFSI and EPSP visibly affect VV in the lower extremities, but when complications and the simplicity and reproducibility of operation techniques are considered, EFSP appears more worthy of promotion.