Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy

Ultrasound guided sclerotherapy – Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can be flesh colored, dark purple or blue. They often look like cords and appear twisted and bulging. They are swollen and raised above the surface of the skin. Varicose veins are commonly found on the backs of the calves or on the inside of the leg. They can cause pain, heaviness, leg swelling, skin changes like redness or inflammation and even non healing leg ulcers.

The heart pumps blood filled with oxygen and nutrients to the whole body. Arteries carry blood from the heart towards the body parts. Veins carry oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart. The squeezing of leg muscles pumps blood back to the heart from the lower body. Veins have valves that act as one-way flaps. These valves prevent the blood from flowing backwards as it moves up the legs. If the one-way valves become weak, blood can leak back into the vein and collect there. This problem is called venous insufficiency. Pooled blood enlarges the vein and it becomes varicose. Inheritance is the main reason for this problem plus other factors like prolonged standing, many pregnancies and over weight.

In the past, people with large varicose veins had no option but to treat them with conventional surgery techniques. These techniques often involved hospitalization, pain, bleeding and anesthesia as the veins were stripped out of the body using surgical instruments. Smaller veins could be treated with sclerotherapy, a method of injecting a substance into veins that would cause them to shrink and disappear. Conventionally, sclerotherapy was only used on these smaller veins; that is, until the advent of new technology called Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy.

Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) is used to treat the malfunction origin vein which is the cause of varicose veins deep under the skin without the need for surgery. It involves the precise injection of the diseased hidden vein with sclerosing solution under the guidance of the ultrasound image.

Following meticulous physical exam, we will examine your legs with an advanced ultrasound to find the cause and severity of the problem. In the case of venous insufficiency, Dr Galili is able to solve the problem in the most efficient and convenient way by Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherpay (UGS) technique. This method when done by experience hands, is one of the most successful and efficient ways of treating varicose veins and most patients can expect a more than 95% improvement.

Usually the symptoms of varicose veins, such as aching and restless legs are gone almost immediately. Ultrasound guided Sclerotherapy leads to the collapse an absorption of the treated vein. It is no longer a varicose vein after successful treatment. There is about an 80% improvement in appearance in the first two weeks. However, it may take some time to completely disappear.

The veins that have been treated effectively will not return. With UGS, varicose veins can be effectively treated without the need for surgery, but for some small percentage, varicose veins might reoccur, mostly in lesser degree. Our aim at The Varicose Vein clinic is to treat the veins that are present, help to prevent the occurrence of new veins and provide ongoing assistance in the treatment of any new problem veins should they emerge.

Most of the time, patients can return to normal activities immediately after treatment, including work or travel home, directly from the clinic. It is recommended to avoid lifting heavy weights and high impact activities for two weeks post-treatment.

Depending on the size of the vein usually 1-3 treatment sessions are required per leg for good results.

Discomfort from the injections is minimal for most patients. Treatment sessions take approximately few minutes to complete following which for some people, compression wraps are applied. These are worn continuously for 3 days hours after treatment. Our patients are instructed to walk for 15 minutes immediately after treatment and then 5-10 minutes 6 times per day for 7 days. Walking in the house or at work is perfectly acceptable.

• he procedure is so simple and straightforward for patients who are appreciative of relieving themselves of the pain associated with their leg veins. The added bonus of the ultrasound guided sclerotherapy treatment is that it provides cosmetic improvement without having to take time off work. Patients are often amazed at the fact they can have ‘gross’ varicose veins treated by ultrasound guided sclerotherapy, and be back at work an hour later.
• No time off work
• No anaesthesia (the procedure is virtually painless)
• No surgery
• No scars or stitches
• Patients can continue normal daily activities