What is sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure, which isused to treat venous vascular malformationsthat commonly appear in the legs and other parts of the body. (1)
In this sense, there are two resources in sclerotherapy where asclerosing substance is used on the one hand, on the other hand atype of polidocanol microfoam is used, the latter currently considered with a higher success rate and low cost compared to other procedures for the treatment of venous vascular malformations.
After applying sclerotherapy, your doctor will stop taking medications such asaspirin or warfarin, which prevent proper clottingin the scarred areas, in the same way he will recommend the use of compression bandage for a relatively short time.
Note: Sclerotherapy alsohas other important uses in medicine, such as the treatment of venous insufficiency. (2)
What is sclerotherapy done for?
When there is weakness, for various reasons, in the valve and wall of the blood vessel to drive the return of blood to the heart, it accumulates giving rise to vascular malformations.
The purpose of sclerotherapy is to heal the damaged vein or blood vessels so that the body redirects that blood flow through other, healthier veins, with aesthetic benefits as well as mitigation of swelling and painin the leg and the formation of blood clots.
To highlight: In the case of sclerotherapy for varicose veins, the procedure is known as venous sclerosis.
How effective is sclerotherapy?
The effectiveness of sclerotherapy will depend on the type of procedure to be used and the conditions in which the patient is.
but if several sessions are used,
You should know: To guarantee the effectiveness of sclerotherapy after the procedure, the patient must follow the medical recommendations of his doctor, such as resting, not performing physical activities for a while, among others.
What are the side effects of sclerotherapy?
Sclerotherapy also has its risks in certain patients , which we mention below:
- Allergic reactions, due to contact with any of the chemical components used in the procedure.
- Formation of clots in the veins, with the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
- Lesions on the skin that can leave minimal scars.
- The temporary appearance of small bruises and localized swelling.
What contraindications does sclerotherapy have?
Sclerotherapy is contraindicated for patients in the following circumstances:
- Sensitivity to any of the chemical components used in the therapy.
- Its application in pregnant women is not advisable.
- If the patient suffers from edema in the area to be treated.
- If there is a condition of mild occlusive arterial disease.
- If the patient suffers from any bleeding disorder.
- If there is a history in the patient of having suffered deep vein thrombosis.
- Poor general health status of the patient.
Important: It is advisable that the patient, before undergoing sclerotherapy, Make a Complete Review of his medical history to his doctor.
Key Findings
- Sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive procedure, which is used to treat venous vascular malformations.
- Sclerotherapy is used to treat hemorrhoids , varicose veins, venous insufficiency, and vascular tumors.
- Sclerotherapy has an effectiveness rate above 90%
- The sclerotherapy with the most medical use is microfoam sclerotherapy , due to its high safety rate.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.