ULTRASOUND-GUIDED SCLEROTHERAPY FOR VARICOSE VEINS. The aim is to eliminate varicose veins by applying a sclerosing agent into the vein. The treatment is carried out in the consulting room, with no need for pre-operative tests, fasting or stopping any medication. It is a virtually painless procedure that takes 20 to 30 minutes. The patient should be reviewed after three to four weeks and, if necessary, the procedure should be repeated. During this time, the patient can lead a normal life and does not need sick leave or to change their routine.
Non-surgical treatment
Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy
It is based on sclerotherapy: this involves introducing into the diseased veins a chemical that irritates the endothelium (the inner wall of the vein that comes into contact with the product), whose function is to seal, collapse or “dry out” the dilated venous channels, leading, after several sessions, to their reabsorption and gradual disappearance. The product we use is polidocanol microfoam. RIVB (Roche Institut Vascular Barcelona) developed the first automated microfoam preparation system, which since its launch in 2021 has been used in more than 30 countries. This system, known as VARIXIO, has revolutionised phlebology and the practice of sclerotherapy. There is a mistaken belief that sclerotherapy is only indicated for the treatment of small varicose veins. However, with the right strategy and method of application, it can be used on any type and location of varicose vein, even in vascular malformations. The key lies in patient selection and in the choice of application strategy.
