Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy

In the past, varicose and spider veins required extensive surgery to be removed, however, advances in vascular medicine now offer several other options. One of those options is ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy. Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy is a minimally-invasive procedure that offers increased precision in treating veins that are large or difficult to find.

What is Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy?

While conventional Sclerotherapy involves injecting affected veins directly with a medical solution mainly in the areas where they are visible, some cases involve varicose veins that are either too deep or too large to treat with this method alone, due to the fact they are visible to the naked eye. Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy utilizes advanced ultrasound to accurately detect underlying veins that put pressure on other, more visible veins.

Once the affected vein has been detected, the medical solution can be injected safely and effectively. In this process, the walls of the vein are damaged, causing them to stick together and clot. The blood flow is redirected, and over time the treated vein is removed naturally by the body.

A liquid solution is usually used, but in some cases a foam solution may be used in order to cover more surface area inside of the vein. Multiple injections may also be necessary in order to achieve desired results in more severe cases.

Am I a Good Candidate for Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy?

Factors such as general health, medical and family history, and individual condition will be evaluated to determine if ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy is the right treatment right for each patient. Prior to treatment, the vascular condition will be thoroughly evaluated and identified to ensure that there are no underlying medical concerns that need to be addressed.

Is There Any Recovery Time?

Ultrasound-guided Sclerotherapy is a procedure that is minimally-invasive and is clinically proven to alleviate symptoms with minimal recovery time. Any resulting discomfort is usually controlled with pain medication, and most patients return to normal activities within a week or so.

Sclerotherapy is a gradual process, but after several weeks, most veins will be completely removed. Although these varicose veins are removed permanently, there is chance that they will recur in the future. However, eliminating the deeper veins reduces the chance that superficial varicose and spider veins will develop again.