FAILURE OF ANGIOSCOPICALLY GUIDED SCLEROTHERAPY TO PERMANENTLY OBLITERATE GREATER SAPHENOUS VARICOSITY

Objective: To assess the long-term outcome of sclerotherapy. Design: Single group study of patients with incompetence of the long saphenous vein. Setting: All treatments were performed in a private office setting. Patients: Sixteen patients with untreated varicosities limited to the greater saphenous vein, which was 10 mm in diameter at the saphenofemoral junction in all cases. Interventions: Angioscopically guided sclerosis of the long saphenous vein. Main outcome measures: Colour-flow ultrasound was used to establish the presence of residual reflux after angioscopic treatment. Results: Total obliteration of saphenofemoral reflux was obtained in 12 veins with angioscopic sclerotherapy. All veins on which follow-up was available (nine veins in seven patients) had undergone substantial recanalization by 12 months after treatment. Conclusion: Angioscopically controlled sclerotherapy effectively obliterates the saphenophemoral junction. Recanalization of the sclerosed segment of vein occurs invariably within 12 months of treatment.