Sclerotherapy for varicose veins *
Between May 1992 and April 1997, 248 patients (324 limbs) with primary varicose veins underwent sclerotherapy at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital. The varicose veined limbs were classified into 195 limbs of the saphenous type, 125 limbs of the segmental type and 4 limbs of the reticular type. Sclerotherapy was performed using a 14.6％ hypertonic saline solution, and compression was done with small cotton balls and an elastic stocking after injection of the sclerosing solution. With 143 limbs of the saphenous type, sclerotherapy was combined with operation. Complications after sclerotherapy included thrombophlebitis 23.5％, pigmentation 17.4％ and recurrence 5.1％. In only one case was there recurrence after sclerotherapy combined with high ligation of the saphenous vein. Therefore, this may be most effective therapy for saphenous type varicose veins. Sclerotherapy only was used to treat 122 limbs of the segmental type. Complications after sclerotherapy included pigmentation 20.8％, thrombophlebitis 15.2％ and recurrence 8.0％. An incompetent perforater was the major reason for recurrence of the segmental type. We considered that ligation of the incompetent perforater should be done for untreatable case. (Accepted on March 25, 1998) Kawasaki Igakkaishi 23(4) : 251-255, 1997
