Failure of Angioscopically Guided Sclerotherapy to Permanently Obliterate Greater Saphenous Varicosity

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the long-term outcome of sclerotherapy.

Design:

Single group study of patients with incompetence of the long saphenous vein.

Setting:

All treatments were performed in a private office setting.

Patients:

Sixteen patients with untreated varicosities limited to the greater saphenous vein, which was 10 mm in diameter at the saphenofemoral junction in all cases.

Interventions:

Angioscopically guided sclerosis of the long saphenous vein.

Main outcome measures:

Colour-flow ultrasound was used to establish the presence of residual reflux after angioscopic treatment.

Results:

Total obliteration of saphenofemoral reflux was obtained in 12 veins with angioscopic sclerotherapy. All veins on which follow-up was available (nine veins in seven patients) had undergone substantial recanalization by 12 months after treatment.

Conclusion:

Angioscopically controlled sclerotherapy effectively obliterates the saphenophemoral junction. Recanalization of the sclerosed segment of vein occurs invariably within 12 months of treatment.