Catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy: a new technique for treating varicose veins

Objectives This was an observational prospective study to assess the safety and efficacy of catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy (CDFS) in the treatment of axial reflux and incompetence of saphenous veins with short-term to mid-term follow-up. Patients and methods A total of 20 patients [11 (55%) male and nine (45%) females] with either reflux of the long saphenous vein and/or short saphenous vein were subjected to CDFS. Overall, 10 ml of foam using polidocanol 2% was injected via long catheter into the saphenous vein. Then patients were followed up on 1 day after procedure, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year by duplex and clinically using visual analog scale (assess satisfaction of the patients which is related to improvement of their symptoms). Results After 1 year, 90% of the patients were satisfied by using visual analog scale, 85% (17 patients) had total ablation of the saphenous vein and 15% (three patients) had partial recanalization, with resultant reflux in two (10%) patients and one (5%) patient had competence of the saphenous vein owing to reduction of its diameter. One patient had deep venous thrombosis (5%), one patient had superficial thrombophlebitis (5%), and one patient had hyperpigmentation of the skin (5%). Conclusion CDFS is a safe and cost-effective procedure for treating axial reflux and incompetence of saphenous veins in terms of clinically and duplex-based outcome at short-term and mid-term follow-up.