Comparative Study of Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy and Surgical Management for the Treatment of Varicose Veins

Objective: Varicose veins of the lower limb are being treated with a number of modalities, mostly by surgical methods. Present study was conducted to compare foam sclerotherapy with surgical treatment of varicose veins.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Delhi on total of 60 patients randomized into two groups of 30 patients each. Both the groups were comparable in terms of preprocedural clinical parameters. After the completion of the study the patients were followed for mean period of more than one year by clinical examination and Doppler study.

Results: The symptomatic and clinical outcomes achieved in both the groups were similar. Foam sclerotherapy was easily administered, well tolerated, safe procedure which was done without risks of anaesthesia and surgery; moreover no hospitalization was needed. Patients returned to their activities the very next day.

Conclusion: Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy was found to be effective and durable method of treatment of varicose veins and the associated complications. As alternative to subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery along with stripping, foam sclerotherapy may lead to fewer skin and wound healing complications. It also results in no loss of daily activities because of hospitalization, a factor of great importance in our patient group.