ES | RU | EN
Logo Vascular Barcelona

Removing varicose veins with no surgery: Sclerotherapy

Eliminación de varices sin cirugía. La escleroterapia.

DEFINITION AND ACTION

Sclerotherapy involves introducing an irritating chemical into the endothelium of diseased veins (inner wall of the vein which makes contacts with the product) and whose function is to seal, collapse or "dry" dilated venous channels, causing, after several sessions, reabsorption and their gradual disappearance.

HISTORY

The injection technique of sclerosing products or sealants to treat varicose veins has several centuries of history. In the last 50 years, we have numerous references of authors who have used different products and techniques to achieve the treatment of varicose veins without reconstruction surgery. In 1944, Orbach was one of the pioneers to use air injected into the vein to favour the effect of the sclerosing product. Also in 1944, Robert Rowden Foote used a mixture of ethanolammonium oleate mixed with air, that, when agitated, created the first sclerosing foam. . In 1949 Karl Sigg started to systematically use the mixture to treat large veins which had so far only been used to treat smaller caliber veins. As the years passed, other authors like Ree, Flückiger, Mayer, Brücke and Gillesberger contributed to the improvement and standardization of the manufacture of sclerosing foam products.

Alongside the development of antibiotics, antisepsis, anaesthesia and the technical advances gave an important boost to the development of surgery, leaving sclerotherapy limited to a secondary role.

However, the birth of ultrasound and its application to the real-time study of venous pathology revolutionized the field of phlebology. It was in 1989 when Knight, Vin and Zygmunt were the first phlebologists who used Doppler ultrasound to monitor treatments.

Schadeck in 1993 presented his experience and showed the usefulness of Doppler ultrasound to monitor the location of vessels to be treated and the direction of the sclerosing foam.

In 1995 Juan Cabrera presented the resultsof the application of the foam that he development with his son Juan Cabrera (pharmacist). This foam was characterised by its density and high solubility given its use of a mixture of physiological gases.

In 1997 Monfreux was frequently in France showing his method of creating foam and many French phlebologists have followed his teachings. The person who maximized the popularity of using sclerosing foam comes from Lorenzo Tessari, who in 2000 published his experience using a foam which was easy to manufacture: The Tessari Method.

TYPES OF SCLEROSANT. ARE THEY ALL THE SAME?

Obviously, NO. There are many foams that can use different manufacturing methods, elements or products.

The most common foam that is often used is manufactured by mixing the liquid (polidocanol or sodium tetradecyl sulfate) with air. This foam can form irregular, medium size bubbles and which becomes unstable a few seconds after formation. Also, the utilization of atmospheric gas as a vehicle for the sclerosing product limits the volume of foam that can be applies in each session.

Dr. Juan Cabrera pioneered the use of a mixture of physiological gases which gave this foam higher solubility. The patent of his foam was acquired by the BTG-Varithena company and therefore this product is protected by intellectual property laws. Cabrera and his team have repeatedly shown that this is one of the most important features for secure administration.

In recent years, many other phlebologists and vascular surgeons have developed different methods for manufacturing foam. Specifically, Nick Morrison has demonstrated the low rate of side effects of foam made with a mixture of oxygen and CO2.These gases are diffuse and are safely dissolved in our body. See bibliography.

The manufacture of different types of foam using drugs and common medications results in a high variability of foams.According to the manufacturing method (agitation with easy-FOAM® system, Garcia Mingo medical foam system, vacuum, the Tessari* method , etc.), and depending on the composition of gas and sclerosant used, different qualities of foam can be achieved.

* The Tessari Method consists of mixing the sclerosing agent with the selected gas (usually ambient air) by passing the gas through a three-way valve from one syringe to another.

Proceso para fabricar la espuma esclerosante para la escleroterapia llamado Método Tessari
Preparación espuma esclerosante mediante el Método Tessari

COMPOSITION OF THE FOAM. WHAT IS SCLEROSING FOAM?

This product is the result of the mixture of polidocanol or sodium tetradecyl sulfate, sclerosing used for over 40 years, with a particular mixture of gases, which generate a foam with very particular physical and chemical characteristics. It is currently applicable to any type of varicose vein, of any size, and in any location.

In 1995 Dr Juan Cabrera patented a way to make foam calling it "microfoam". Its indications, the  method of use and the results have revolutionized the world of phlebology and has shown some spectacular results of which the like had never been seen before. It takes its name from the characteristics of bubble size which is produced by a undisclosed system which is protected by the patent owned by the British Technology Group. Currently the name Microfoam has become popular implying that the resulting foam maintains a characteristic physical stability.

Since then many internationally prestigious phlebologists such as Tessari (Italy), Nick Morrison (USA), Guex (France), Pauline Martinbeau (Canada), Coleridge-Smith (Great Britain), Rabe (Germany) have widely used sclerotherapy foams, and which have been improved in terms of homogeneity and size to achieve a similar microfoam to the one that Dr. Cabrera patented.

While the only foam to have had safety studies and effectiveness controls by European and US regulators of new drugs is Varisolve®, other foams or microfoams are collecting some very encouraging results.

There is international consensus in Germany, France, Holland, Britain which are defining the role of this new therapy (See bibliography).

Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapyis achieving results which show effectiveness and safety that match conventional surgical procedures, even though it requires a more comprehensive post-treatment monitoring.

INDICATIONS: WHEN TO APPLY THIS TREATMENT

The great advantage of this treatment compared to other methods is that foam sclerotherapy can be used for all types of varicose veins as it can be adapted to each particular situation, given the many variables that have to be considered.

We can choose a certain concentration of product and decide to inject more or less volume, with more or less speed and associate different complementary techniques during the process that will help us have one result or another.

Este tratamiento se puede aplicar a any type of varicose vein, of any size or location, on an outpatient basis and without any limitation to daily activities. from spider veins or varices, to varicose veins or subcutaneous capillary veins to high volume varicose veins, , all can be treated by microfoam.

Varices de gran tamaño en piernas
Pierna afectada por varices
Varices antes inoperables pueden tratarse con escleroterapia
La espuma también trata arañas vasculares, varículas o venas

This treatment is also applicable to vascular malformations that were previously virtually inoperable.

No other treatment or technique offers as many possibilities.

TREATMENT STEP BY STEP: HOW IT IS DONE

For the treatment to be effective and durable, it should be done in several sessions. The total number of sessions depends on each individual case. It is important to keep a check once the visible varicose veins have disappeared because sometimes there may be veins which aren’t visable but can potentially end up dilating.

To start the treatment no fasting or any specific preparation is required. Patients who are undergoing treatment with antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, clopidogrel or similar) or with anticoagulants (Sintrom) do not need to discontinue their treatment.

1. Medical visit

Any treatment must be preceded by a medical examination which records in the medical record the patient history and all data of interest.

Visita médica, primer paso para el tratamiento contra las varices con espuma

2. Exploring the patient

A detailed study based on a physical exploration as well as an ultrasound Doppler study should be performed. During this procces the patient is informed about their situation and which vein or veins are not performing correctly. Afterwards, the appropriate course of treatment is planned.

Exploración física y estudio Ecodoppler
Dr. Enric Roche explicando al paciente la exploración de sus varices

3. Starting the sessions

If the patient needs treatment, they are asked to come back again to start the sclerotherapy sessions. Each session requires a new ultrasound examination to plan each visit's treatment strategy.

Inicio de las sesiones, controladas con exploración ecográfica
Inicio de las sesiones, controladas con exploración ecográfica

4. Applying the sclerosing foam

The foam injection is performed through a single virtually painless injection point. The larger the varicose veins, the less injection points are needed. While performing the injection we control the movement of a foam by means of a monitor, allowing us to direct it to where we want. See vídeo and photos of actual treatmentl.

Aplicación de la espuma esclerosante
Aplicación de la espuma esclerosante

In the case of spider veins or small varicose veins, given that they are thinner, multiple injection points are needed which is done by means of a small calibre needle. Sometimes an anaesthetic spray is used to reduce discomfort.

Aplicación de la espuma esclerosante para la eliminación de varículas o arañas vasculares
Transiluminador para visualizar venas más profundas y favorecer su punción

5. Positioning compression stockings

At the end of each session a compression stocking is put on and should be used in the following weeks and, depending on each individual case, the length of use could be extended or reduced. The use of a compression stocking is an important element in obtaining good results.

La colocación de la media de compresión asegura unos buenos resultados

6. End of session

After the procedure, you may return a completely normal life, although vigorous exercise or sport activities is not recommended.

Al finalizar cada sesión de escleroterapia, el paciente podrá hacer vida normal

SECURITY. IS IT A SAFE TECHNIQUE?

Currently there are clinical guidelines endorsed by international scientific committees to ensure that ultrasound guided sclerotherapy with sclerosing foam is a safe technique with minimal side effects and that it has a similar effectiveness to conventional surgery for varicose vein treatment (see bibliography Van de Bos). Currently thousands of sessions of sclerotherapy are performed daily and more and more vascular surgeons are discovering the advantages of this treatment.

Have you found what you wanted?

We hope that all the information we have explained about foam sclerotherapy has resulted interesting. If you have not found what you were wanting or if you are interested in having sclerotherapy as a patient in order to eliminate varicose veins of any size, large or small, please don't hesitate in contacting us with your inquiry.

Tratamiento de varices con espuma esclerosante
Esclerosant foam application
Espuma esclerosante, tratamiento de la escloreterapia explicado en 4 pasos
Video resume of the treatment in 4 steps
Explicación del tratamiento de la escleroterapia con imagen real, infografía y casos de antes y después.
Sclerotherapy informative video
Caso ejemplo (varices antes y después) del tratamiento para la eliminación de varices con espuma
Before and after traetment example with foam treatment
CLÍNICA VASCULAR Barcelona. Oliana, 27 08006 Barcelona · Tel. 93 209 90 23· info@vascularbarcelona.com · Condiciones de uso | © 2011 TANDA