Treatment Overview
Sclerotherapy uses an injection of a special
chemical (sclerosant) into a
to damage and scar the inside lining of
the vein. This causes the vein to close.
During this procedure,
the affected leg is elevated to drain blood, and the sclerosant is injected
into the varicose vein. The procedure is done in a doctor's office or clinic
and takes 5 to 30 minutes, depending on how many varicose veins are treated and
how big they are.
After the injection of sclerosant is given,
pressure is applied over the veins to prevent blood return when you stand up.
You may need to wear
compression stockings or elastic bandages for several
days or weeks to maintain the pressure.
The sclerotherapy
injection may be painful, and the chemical (sclerosant) that is injected can
cause a feeling of burning or cramping for a few minutes in the area where the
shot was given. You may need repeated sessions and many injections each
session, depending on the extent of the varicose veins and type of sclerosant
used.
A newer, minimally invasive technique allows your doctor to inject sclerosant
with a catheter. The catheter and sclerosant are guided to the affected vein
with the help of
. This process allows sclerotherapy
treatment to be used on larger varicose veins that previously could only be
treated surgically with ligation and stripping, in which larger varicose veins
are tied off and removed.
What To Expect After Treatment
Sclerotherapy generally does not
require any recovery period. You will likely be able to walk immediately after
the treatment but you should take it easy for a day or two. Bed rest is not
recommended, but you may need to avoid strenuous exercise for a few days after
sclerotherapy.
You will probably have to wear compression
stockings after having sclerotherapy. Doctors disagree on how long a person
needs to wear the stockings after having treatment. Some think that several
weeks is necessary, but others think a few days is enough.
Why It Is Done
Sclerotherapy is used to
treat:
- and small veins that are
not causing more serious problems.
- Smaller varicose veins that come
back after vein-stripping surgery.
- Larger varicose veins, when
minimally invasive techniques are used.
Sclerotherapy may be done alone or as a follow-up to
surgery.
Sclerotherapy should not be done if you:
- Are pregnant or nursing. It is not known
whether the chemical (sclerosant) causes birth defects or gets into breast
milk.
- Have a history of allergy to sclerosant or similar
substances.
- Have blood clots or inflammation in the deep leg veins
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