Varicose Veins Removal by Sclerotherapy at Boston MA
Varicose veins of the leg encompass the most frequent physical signs of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and are one of the most prevalent conditions in the general population. Varicose veins are caused either by primary abnormalities of the venous wall and/or valve leaflets or secondary changes due to previous venous thrombosis.
These causes can lead to reflux, obstruction or both. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, hormonal changes and pregnancy, obesity, lifestyle, venous thrombosis, leg injury, and prolonged standing varicose veins that can be asymptomatic, produce aesthetic damage and/or discomfort or be responsible for functional and/or objective signs and symptoms of CVI. Dr. MUZZAMAL HABIB, MD at Boston Vein Care Boston MA efficiently describes and uses the method of Sclerotherapy for varicose veins removal.
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy has been frequently used worldwide (alone or in combination with surgery)for all types of varicose veins removal, primary and/or secondary. Currently, it is the most commonly used procedure for the improvement of leg appearance. It is also used for symptom relief and for prevention of complications related to varicose veins. The guiding principles for successful sclerotherapy are an irreversible endothelial injury to the desired vein and permanently eliminating all sources of superficial reflux without causing any adverse effects.
How to perform?
The procedure involves direct injection of a corrosive substance (referred to as a sclerosant agent or sclerosant) into the varicose veins with a small needle. The sclerosant is designed to irritate or dehydrate, change the surface tension or destroy the endothelial cells to produce a small thrombosis that eventually results in permanent fibrosis of the vein.
After massaging the injection site to evenly distribute the sclerosant, compression therapy may be applied for a few days or as long as 8 weeks for complete varicose veins removal.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (USGS)
One of the modern methods of varicose veins removal is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (USGS) or echo sclerotherapy. During this technique, the intra-venous position of the needle is controlled by both ultrasound and clinical observation.
USGS purportedly increases efficacy and safety by providing visualization of the injection, diffusion of the sclerosant and the venous spasm that follows injection, the immediate identification of a perivascular injection, unfavorable anatomical situations.
