Sclerotherapy

Complications of sclerotherapy

• Extravasation causing pigmentation or ulceration
• Deep venous thrombosis

Recurrent varicose veins

• 15 - 25 % of varicose vein surgery is for recurrence
• Outcome of recurrent varicose veins surgery is less successful
• Can be avoided with adequate primary surgery

Reasons for recurrence

Inaccurate clinical assessment

• Confusion as to whether varicosities are in LSV or SSV distribution
• Can be avoided with use of hand held doppler

Inadequate primary surgery

• 10% cases SFJ not correctly identified
• 20% cases tributaries mistaken for LSV
• Failure to strip LSV

Injudicious use of sclerotherapy

• 70% of those with SF incompetence treated with sclerotherapy alone will develop recurrence

Neovascularisation

• With recurrent varicose vein need to image with duplex or varicography

Dr. Pankaj Patel a vascular surgeon has expertise in peripheral vascular diseases, varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis