Standard sclerotherapy injection is an effective way to treat and eliminate spider veins, but when a patient has veins that could lead to more serious health issues if left untreated, ultrasonic-guided sclerotherapy is the preferred approach. People who experience physical discomfort due to venous conditions or are unhappy with the appearance of varicose veins can find relief in the many available treatments. Dr.
Wright
, a board-certified vein specialist and medical director of the Laser Lipo and Vein Center in St.Louis, was one of the first 248 surgeons in the country to obtain a certification in phlebology, a specialty dedicated to comprehensive treatment of venous diseases. The clinical effects of sclerotherapy were evaluated based on patient complaints and the status of varicose veins after treatment. Although each injection closes a small part of a vein, there is still a chance that it will reopen and require additional venous treatment. Once venous insufficiency has been correctly identified, conservative treatments can be used as an initial approach.
These may include lifestyle changes, compression stockings, and medications. One week and one month after sclerotherapy, thrombophlebitis occurred in 11 (21%) cases in the treated vein or its tributaries. Wright has written and presented several scientific articles on surgical techniques for treating venous insufficiency. Side effects of sclerotherapy may include hyperpigmentation due to iron deposits, temporary swelling, formation of telangiectatic mats (thin, red spider veins), localized redness (hives), skin necrosis, and systemic allergic reactions.
Today, varicose veins can be treated with endovenous laser ablation without the trauma of venous removal. This procedure is designed primarily for venous surgeons and uses radio wave energy to rapidly transmit to the affected area, causing the vein walls to collapse. The decision to evacuate the thrombus in case of thrombophlebitis of the GSV or its tributaries was taken one month after treatment. Any adult man or woman who is in good health and has thin spider veins or tangled telangiectasia is a good candidate for this procedure.
In the past, vein surgery was performed in a hospital and usually involved a long and often uncomfortable recovery period, sometimes leaving visible scars. However, with modern advances in technology, ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is now available as an outpatient procedure with minimal downtime.
