INJECTION TREATMENTS - Sclerotherapy

	DOING NOTHING
	STOCKINGS
	INJECTION TREATMENTS
		SCLEROTHERAPY
		ULTRASOUND GUIDED SCLEROTHERAPY (UGS)
	ENDOVENOUS LASER TREATMENT (EVLT)
	SURGERY
		TRANSILLUMINATED POWERED PHLEBECTOMY
		VNUS CLOSURE
		SURGITRON

Sclerotherapy  ::  Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy

Sclerotherapy

This means injection treatment. A sclerosant is injected into a vein, which causes it to shrivel up. Some form of compression to keep blood out of the vein while the process takes place is nearly always used. As veins lie in fat where there are hardly any pain nerves, the process is usually very comfortable, except if a very strong salt solution is used……this can cause extremely painful stinging.

The two most commonly used sclerosants in NZ are sodium tetradecyl sulphate (used to be called STD but now known as STS for obvious reasons!) and aethoxysclerol. The latter is safer, has an analgesic effect, and fewer complications. It can only be used in NZ under special conditions. Both sclerosants have toxic effects if the recommended maximum dosage is exceeded.

Both sclerosants frequently cause a temporary staining of the skin, which usually only lasts a month or two, but may last very much longer, and there have been reports of it being permanent. A form of allergy whereby the patient goes into shock (anaphylaxis) is an uncommon but potentially dangerous side effect. However, anaphylaxis can occur with any medication…even aspirin, and is not a peculiarity of this treatment.

Sclerotherapy can be used for tiny spider veins, or larger visible veins. In some people, a tiny amount can escape when injected, and causes irritation to the skin. In the most sensitive, this can form a small skin ulcer. Rarely, the sclerosant can travel into a tiny arteriole (microscopic artery), which can block off, and also cause an ulcer. This is unpreventable but fortunately very rare. It can occur when injecting any tiny spider veins.