Sclerotherapy is a medical procedure used to treat varicose and spider veins by injecting a solution into the affected veins, causing them to collapse and fade. Ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy (UGS) is a variation that uses ultrasound to visualize deeper veins and guide the injection for more precise and effective treatment, particularly for veins not visible on the surface.
Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy (UGS) is a highly specialised procedure for treating advanced varicose veins that are hidden beneath the skin.
The procedure is very effective and involves injecting a sclerosant solution into the abnormal veins using ultrasound guidance, causing the vein wall to collapse. The veins dissolve and disappear as the body gradually absorbs them.
How does Ultrasound Guided Sclerotherapy work?
A detailed duplex ultrasound examination is carried out prior to the procedure to create a virtual map of the lower leg veins. This map precisely displays all abnormal veins, as well as adjacent structures such as deep veins and arteries, and helps the phlebologist identify the root cause of the visible varicose veins.
After the ultrasound, the patient lies comfortably on the treatment bed with the treatment leg exposed. With ultrasound guidance, the doctor can accurately guide the needle and inject the hidden abnormal veins, while observing the process on the ultrasound monitor. Once injected, the treated vessel will collapse and gradually be absorbed by the body, disappearing with time. A number of injections will be required along the length of the vein to achieve complete closure.
A significant advantage of this method is that it allows the phlebologist to monitor the effect of each injection, while ensuring the safety of all adjacent structures. The use of sclerosant as foam, rather than solution, has made this procedure much more effective.
What Happens After Treatment?
The treatment usually takes half an hour, but one hour is allocated to allow sufficient time for ultrasound examination, patient preparation, and discussion. Following the procedure, patients are fitted with grade 2 graduated compression stockings and asked to go for a 30-40 minute walk to promote blood flow into the deeper veins.
Patients are normally reviewed one week following the UGS procedure. At this review appointment, another detailed ultrasound is performed to ensure that the treatment was successful and any residual spider or varicose veins are injected using the microsclerotherapy technique.