ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
Ultrasound-guided sclerosing foam treatment is a very common treatment today and one of the most performed.
ULTRASOUND GUIDED FOAM SCLEROTHERAPY
The advantages of ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UFGS - ultrosound guided foam sclerotherapy, for its acronym in English), with respect to other liquid sclerosis techniques are evident, and for example, much less amount of sclerosing agent is needed to produce the desired effect, thereby considerably reducing the possible phenomena of toxicity, allergies and adverse effects.
In addition, the drug in foam form increases the contact surface with the inner wall of the varicose vein, as well as the action time, thus greatly enhancing its chemical action. It is usually used for medium or large caliber varicose veins, and even for the treatment of the main saphenous trunks (such as the great saphenous vein and the lesser saphenous vein).
If we add to this that the treatment is controlled all the time by ultrasound, it becomes a reliable, safe and repeatable weapon.
The best results are obtained in truncal varicose veins in which the trunk of the great saphenous vein does not exceed 10 mm, and the trunk of the saphenous vein is less than 8 mm, as most international clinical guidelines correctly point out.
In some of these cases of saphenous veins of large caliber or great dilation, it could be performed, and it would even be beneficial for the patient, although thermal procedures (Closure or endovenous laser) are usually more effective.
Foam treatment is also very useful in varicose veins of the lower limbs associated with the presence of varicose veins of pelvic origin and in varicose recurrences, in areas where surgery can be very difficult to perform.
It can be used in anticoagulated patients. The advantages over other techniques are evident: it is an outpatient treatment, which can be performed in the office or sometimes in the operating room as a complement to another treatment.
There are multiple scientific publications and national and international consensus guidelines that guide the lines of treatment.
It is done in the office, in sessions that cover areas of the leg or thigh, and that can be done every 7, 15 days or 3 weeks, depending on the case. The number of sessions for each patient is variable.
It is very important to carry out scheduled check-ups every 6 months or once a year, since varicose veins are a chronic and progressive disease, it is more than likely that throughout the patient's life it will be necessary to carry out new sessions, either by appearance of new varicose veins or as maintenance of the result of the initial treatment.
An important detail is the duration of the treatment, which can range from 3 to 6 months from the start to the "discharge" or the date on which the final result is appreciated.
Foam treatment is a process that requires this time for the treated varicose veins to go through the resorption process. During this time it is necessary to wear an elastic stocking adapted to the type of varicose veins treated.
Serious complications are rare or exceptional, and bruising, slight inflammation at the treated site and indurated venous path after treatment are to be expected, which subside in a reasonable time until they progressively disappear.
It is important that the treating physician has extensive training in venous pathology, in vascular echodoppler and in ultrasound-guided injections so that the process performed is safe and so that in the event of any complication, it can be treated and resolved appropriately. accurate and early.
