Sclerotherapy Research Paper

Words: 511
Pages: 3

Sclerotherapy is a treatment for varicose veins that uses an injection to collapse the affected vein and make it gradually disappear. The substance that is injected into the vein is called a sclerosant and is usually saline solution, but may be a different chemical for people who have an allergic reaction to saline solution. The sclerosant irritates and damages the lining of the vein as well as the tiny valves inside the vein to help stop the blood from flowing backward, away from the heart.

The heart needs to work harder to pump the blood up the legs against gravity. There are several reasons why this becomes difficult and the blood starts to pool in the legs causing them to twist and bulge. This is the beginning of varicose veins that can be large or small. Smaller varicose veins may not be seen beneath the surface of the skin, but larger ones are quite unsightly and can be embarrassing.

The most common cause of varicose veins is heredity. Obesity is another common cause as are lack of exercise, standing or sitting for extended periods of time, smoking and pregnancy.
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It is safe and effective, especially for small and medium sized varicose veins and spider veins. During the treatment, your leg may be raised to drain most of the blood. The sclerosant will be injected into the vein, and the whole process may take from five to 30 minutes. The needle is very tiny and there is no anesthesia needed for most people. Some people like to have a topical anesthetic cream applied before the injection. After the injection, our specialist may put pressure on the vein to stop the blood from returning. You may be asked to wear compression stockings for a week or two after the treatment to maintain the