Sclerotherapy: Safe and Effective
In the past, and to this day, many surgeons still perform vein surgery on varicose veins, namely 'vein stripping'. In the majority of cases, it is performed under general anesthesia; a surgical incision is made in the groin area as well as below the knee. The vein is removed from the leg. This may be accompanied by many tiny incisions overlying the lower leg thus removing surgically the smaller veins. There is always a possibility of nerve injury as the nerve to the skin runs very close to the vein.
In addition, post surgical 'downtime; may extend up to 10 days with possible bruising and achiness. Patients are left with surgical scars, possibility of nerve injury as well as significant downtime. Later, laser energy (endovenous laser therapy) and radiofrequency energy was used to 'zap' or ablate the main vein of the leg that is contributing to the reflux and varicose veins. There are numerous reported disadvantages, namely the use of high energy with the possibility of skin burns or nerve damage, recurrence or 'opening up' of the treated vein and the use of catheters and probes, making those choices more invasive.
Sclerotherapy on the other hand, does not involve surgical scars, is safe and effective with minimal to no downtime. The venous community envisions a trend towards foam sclerotherapy with surgical and other energy modalities of treatment ultimately becoming obsolete.
Treatment of varicose veins
During the comprehensive consultation with Dr.Altuwaijri for varicose veins, a duplex ultrasound will be performed in the office at the same visit. Normal veins have 'one way valves' that help return blood to the heart. In the majority of cases with varicose veins, we find the valves to be 'leaky' as suspected by clinical examination and confirmed by an ultrasound. Ultrasound enables us to determine the appropriate level of treatment by sclerotherapy and assists in follow up visits and progress. Dr.Altuwaijri injects the veins with a medicine. This causes the vein walls to collapse and eventually reabsorbed by the body as the vein shrinks in size. The injections are very well tolerated without any need for an anesthetic.
