Ultrasound Technology

The use of ultrasonography has made great strides in the last decade, going from grainy images to high-resolution images in 3D and 4D. At the Portland Vein Clinic, we use a state of the art Biosound/Esaote with an 18 MHz transducer that delivers resolution higher than MRI for vascular diagnosis and guided injection. The evidence is clear that ultrasound guided sclerotherapy is far superior to conventional sclerotherapy and that in combination with the use of foam sclerotherapy, offers the best, safest, and longest acting results.

Ultrasound Guided Foam Sclerotherapy

In the past, liquid sclerosants were injected into veins to make them close and be reabsorbed. This works but the effectiveness is limited due to dilution of the liquid in the vein and is associated with greater side effects because of the increase in dosage of the sclerosant needed. With the use of a foamed sclerosant, there is much better spread of the agent within the vein allowing for superior vein closing effects, a decreased dose of the sclerosant, and much less side effects.

In a recent landmark study, ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (USGFS) was found to be safe and effective for successful varicose vein closure in all leg veins, up to 3 years after a single treatment in 81% and in a further 11% with a second treatment. Superficial varicose veins disappeared in 96.5%, though some patients had further treatment. (Darke SG, Baker SJA, 2006)

Another important study published in 2009 compared recovery after ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy and surgery for varicose veins and found that the sclerotherapy group had less pain, less bruising, less time off work, and an immediate return to driving (Darvall KA, et al, 2009) Other studies have shown that the reoccurrence rate with surgery is very high and is likely to be much less with USGFS. Other important advantages to USGFS vs. surgery is cost, convenience, time off work, the avoidance of a general anesthetic and surgical intervention.