Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is generally used to treat spider veins (smaller, non-bulging) and is sometimes used as an adjunct (in addition) to EVLT®. Underlying venous reflux (disease) must be treated prior to addressing the more cosmetic spider veins with sclerotherapy.
A sufficient volume and concentration of sclerosant (a chemical) is injected into the vein to cause irritation and damage to the vein wall, while diluting to non-toxic levels further away. Multiple sclerotherapy treatments are often necessary to achieve full clearance.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of saphenous veins has also been tried as an alternative to surgery and ablation (endovenous laser or radiofrequency). However, recurrence rates following this technique are high, complications have been significant, and long-term results do not equal surgery or endovenous ablation.
|
EVLT® |
Sclerotherapy |
| Primary Application |
Varicose Veins |
Spider Veins |
Treats Venous Reflux
(underlying disease) |
Yes |
No |
| Covered by Insurance |
Yes1 |
No |
| FDA Clearance |
2002 |
Foam – Not Cleared
Liquid (Sotradecol) – 2004
Liquid (Other) – Not Cleared |
Success Rate
(GSV Treatment) |
93-98%2,3 |
9-26% (liquid)5-7
68-80% (foam)5,6,8 |
| Complications
| |
| Pulmonary Embolism (PE) |
None Reported4 |
Foam – Documented
embolism and stroke
(with PFO)9,10 |
| Typical # of Treatments |
1 Treatment |
2-3 Treatments11 |
- Greater than 217 million patient lives covered by major insurers including Medicare, United, Aetna/US Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, & others.
Check with your local insurance provider to confirm coverage.
- Min, Khilnani, Zimmet. Endovenous Laser Treatment of Saphenous Vein Reflux: Long-Term Results. J Vasc Interv Radiol; 2003;14:991-996
- Navarro, Salat. Endolaser – a three year follow-up report: Implication on crossectomy and ligation and stripping. 16th Annual Congress
American College of Phlebology, Nov 2002
- FDA reported events on Manufacturer & User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database (up to April 2007) since product inception. Up to
date results available at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMAUDE/search.cfm
- Hamel-Desnos C, et al. Evaluation of the efficacy of polidocanol in the form of foam compared with liquid form in sclerotherapy of the greater
saphenous vein: initial results. Dermatol Surg. 2003 Dec;29(12):1170-5
- Yamaki T, et al. Comparative study of duplex-guided foam sclerotherapy and duplex-guided liquid sclerotherapy for the treatment of superficial
venous insufficiency. Dermatol Surg. 2004 May;30(5):718-22
- Bishop CC, Fronek HS, et al. Real-time color duplex scanning after sclerotherapy of the greater saphenous vein. J Vasc Surg. 1991
Oct;14(4):505-8
- Kanter A, Thibault P. Saphenofemoral incompetence treated by ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. Dermatol Surg. 1996 Jul;22(7):648-52
- Hanisch F et al. Stroke following variceal sclerotherapy. Eur J Med Res. 2004 May 28;9(5):282-4
- Forlee MV et al.. Stroke after varicose vein foam injection sclerotherapy. J Vasc Surg. 2006 Jan;43(1):162-4
- Barrett JM et al Microfoam ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy of varicose veins in 100 legs. Dermatol Surg 2004 Jan;30(1):6-12
PP/1393C Issue 1 10/07 Copyright Diomed Inc. One Dundee Park Suite 5/6 Andover, MA All rights reserved
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