Plymouth Vein Clinic, Devon. Specialists in Varicose Veins

1.   Introduction

Varicose veins are a sign of underlying venous insufficiency and affect 20-30% of adults, most commonly women. Long saphenous vein insufficiency is the most common form of venous insufficiency in people presenting with symptoms. People with varicose veins often have no symptoms but may have fatigue, heaviness, aching, throbbing, itching and cramps in the legs. In some patients chronic venous insufficiency can lead to skin discoloration, inflammatory dermatitis and ulceration.

 

2.   Indications for treatment of veins using Foam

If conservative methods such as compression stockings fail to alleviate symptoms or if improvement of the appearance is desired then definitive therapy using various minimally invasive modalities (e.g. Foam Sclerotherapy, Radiofrequency Ablation, Endovenous Laser etc.) may be considered. Surgery (such as ligation or stripping) is rarely required and only if the condition is more complicated or for particularly large veins. 

 

3.   What does the procedure involve?

Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins is a variation of established sclerotherapy techniques that use liquid injection. It uses a sclerosant solution that has been transformed into foam by being forcibly mixed with air or preferably, carbon dioxide plus oxygen. The latter gas combination is physiological and is completely soluble in blood and, therefore, potentially much safer than injecting foam made with air. Our research on the potential benefits of using physiological gas as opposed to air for making foam has been published (click here). Unlike the majority of centres which continue to use air-based foam, we only use physiological gas.

 

The procedure is performed with local anaesthesia. A catheter is inserted into the main affected superficial vein and is monitored using ultrasound imaging. At the Plymouth Vein Clinic we use sclerosant foam made using carbon dioxide plus oxygen which is then injected and monitored. Once the foam has filled the entire main superficial vein, the top end of the vein may be compressed to keep the foam in the superficial veins. The foam causes inflammation of the vein wall, obliteration of the vein's lumen and vein occlusion. Click here for a video of the procedure.

 

Further injections may be given during the same session to make sure that all the varicose veins have been completely filled. If any vein is incompletely treated, further injections can be given in a second session. In most cases a single treatment is sufficient, in about ten to fifteen percent of cases we need to repeat the treatment to deal with any remaining veins.

 

4.   How effective is the treatment?

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published updated guidance in February 2013. Current evidence on the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for varicose veins is adequate. Studies have shown the treatment to be successful in over 90% patients. The rate of symptomatic varicose vein recurrence ranges from 4% to 22% at 5-year follow-up. Current evidence suggests no significant difference between foam sclerotherapy and other treatment modalities for varicose veins in the short to medium term. Current research does not provide clear evidence of the efficacy of this treatment in the long-term. Further studies regarding long-term efficacy are ongoing 

 

5.   Are there any risks?

The potential complications of this procedure are deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis and allergy. A very few people have had transient visual disturbances or chest discomfort immediately after the treatment, this is very rare and does not last, others have had a bad headache or fainting.  Extremely rare but serious complications include fitting, transient ischaemic attack, stroke and heart attack.

 

6.   What are the side effects?

After a few weeks there may still remain a hard lump and some bruising where the vein used to run, THIS IS NORMAL and will resolve, it indicates that the treatment has worked well. A small number of patients may get some pigmentation developing in the skin overlying the treated veins.