What is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy? Have you heard of ultrasound treatment for varicose veins? When do we need ultrasound vein treatment?
At USA Vein Clinics, we will assist you with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
What is ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy?
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is a new ultrasound treatment for varicose veins. The specialist uses ultrasound through which the image of the invisible varicose veins appears on a monitor, making it possible to guide the sclerosing treatment live and direct hidden varicose veins.
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is an ultrasound vein treatment. It consists of applying injections with sclerosing substances into the diseased veins. This ultrasound treatment for varicose veins uses ultrasound emitting equipment, also known as color ecoddopler, to make them visible on a monitor and in real-time. Non-visible varicose veins are located deeper. Using the images on the monitor, it is possible to guide the injection of sclerosants, which makes possible the treatment with sclerosants injections of more profound and more significant caliber varicose veins previously invisible.
In this way, insufficiency of the saphenous vein and perforators can be treated non-invasively and without surgery, which previously could require conventional varicose vein surgery (invasive) or laser varicose vein surgery (minimally invasive). The images on the monitor allow the specialist to guide the needle into the vein or varix.
Why choose ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy for varicose veins?
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy is a non-invasive ultrasound vein treatment that injects sclerosing substances into diseased or varicose veins. Once inside the vein, these substances cause it to close, harden, and be replaced by a cord of fibrous tissue absorbed by the body over time. The varicose vein is thus eliminated. In general, visible, low-calibre veins closer to the skin’s surface are treated with sclerosis and those popularly called “spider veins” (telangiectasias or effusions). The procedure did not allow treating diseased veins located deeper, invisible to the eye, which often cause varicose veins and spider veins visible on the skin’s surface. This limitation of sclerotherapy led to the indication of varicose vein surgery in some cases.
In the case of echo sclerosis, echography using ultrasound makes diseased veins of larger calibers, located deeper under the skin, visible on a monitor. This enables the trained phlebologist to inject the sclerosing substance into these larger calibre diseased veins that often cause spider veins and varicose veins visible on the skin surface. The doctor can thus manage to treat varicose veins, which are the root of the problem. Previously, the insufficiency of these diseased veins could have an indication for surgery, such as saphenous insufficiency and perforators. This new treatment allows us to reach the origins of the varicose disease, which often means that removing a single deeper varicose vein eliminates the superficial varicose veins and spider veins where this deeper varicose vein originated.
The benefits of ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy:
Less ultrasound treatment for varicose veins sessions is needed to eliminate varicose veins since, in some instances, removing a deep varicose vein produces the disappearance of other more superficial varicose veins and spider veins, which the varicose vein causes.
- The treatment goes faster and is cheaper.
- Less expensive than surgery.
- You can return to work after the procedure. Everyday tasks are not affected.
- The results are long-lasting since the problem is often eliminated at its source.
- Anesthesia is not used.
- It does not hurt.
- It does not leave a scar, nor are stitches needed, since it is only an injection.
What are the risks of this ultrasound vein treatment?
Various studies on ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy’s degree of safety and the most severe complications have a low incidence. Compared with surgery, a more or less recent study suggests that the frequency of complications is much lower using ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
How many sessions are required?
It varies according to each case, generally between 1 and 2 sessions.
Is anaesthesia used in ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy?
No type of anaesthesia is used since the procedure does not hurt.
Schedule an online appointment here.
