An extended 5 year follow up of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was published by researchers at The Danish Vein Centers and Surgical Center Roskilde, Naestved, Denmark.
Lawaetz M, Serup J, Lawaetz B, Bjoern L, Blemings A2 Eklof B and Rasmussen L published their manuscript entitled Comparison of endovenous ablation techniques, foam sclerotherapy and surgical stripping of the great saphenous veins. Extended 5 year follow-up of a RCT.
The artilce is published in International Angiology 2017; 36(3):281-288.
The article assesses technical efficacy, clinical recurrence and the rate of reoperation for the 3 techniques named above: vein stripping, foam sclerotherapy and endovenous laser therapy.
The researchers randomized 580 legs with Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) reflux and varicose veins to one of the 4 treatments. Follow-up included clinical and duplex ultrasound examination.
More recanalization of the great saphenous vein occurred after ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy and no difference in the technical efficacy was found between the other modalities during 5-year follow-up.
Dr Karamanoukian's comment: It is more common in Europe to perform ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy for reflux into great saphenous veins than to perform more expensive but durable procedures such as endovenous laser therapy. This decision to use ultrasound guided sclerotherapy for great saphenous veins in Europe is made as an economic choice. In the U.S., certified phlebologists (vein specialists) use endovenous laser therapy or the older Venefit procedure (VNUS Closure) to treat saphenofemoral reflux into the great saphenous vein.
PLEASE NOTE that we are discussing ultrasound guided sclerotherapy of the Great Saphenous Vein and NOT tributaries of the great sapheous vein. Ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy of the tributaries is highly successful.
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