Sonography for Varicose Vein Treatment
Varicose veins is a condition where the valves in a blood vessel do not function correctly, causing blood to pool in the vessel. The blood vessel then becomes thicker, causing them to become more apparent in the affected area. Varicose veins usually appear in the lower extremities, where blood tends to pool if there are valvular problems. This condition is quite common in pregnant women or people who spent a lot of time on their feet during regular daily and work activities.
The pathophysiology of varicose veins
The twisted, enlarged veins become very apparent on the skin but are usually harmless. They appear because the valves that are found in the vessels in the lower extremities are weak, preventing blood from circulating upwards and back to the heart. As blood pools in the vessels in the legs, they become enlarged and twisted, appearing on the skin’s surface. Genetics is a factor that is largely considered for this condition, aside from job-related or pregnancy-related factors.
The pathophysiology of varicose veins
The twisted, enlarged veins become very apparent on the skin but are usually harmless. They appear because the valves that are found in the vessels in the lower extremities are weak, preventing blood from circulating upwards and back to the heart. As blood pools in the vessels in the legs, they become enlarged and twisted, appearing on the skin’s surface. Genetics is a factor that is largely considered for this condition, aside from job-related or pregnancy-related factors.
Introduction of foam sclerotherapy
The most common treatment measures for varicose veins is surgery or topical medication. However, a lot of patients aren’t willing to undergo invasive procedures for a simple condition, and for others, topical medication doesn’t work as effectively for them as it does others. Foam sclerotherapy involves the injection of a foamed sclerosant drug into the vessel that causes the vessels to shrink in size. You can read more about innovative, lifesaving procedures on www.UltrasoundTechnicianCenter.org. *The use of a foamed drug instead of a purely liquid form has been found to be much more effective because it doesn’t become diluted in the blood (and instead displaces it). |
Ultrasound guidance
The role of ultrasound is quite important for this kind of procedure because veins, while they appear clearly on the skin, can actually lie beneath the dermis. This makes it very difficult to correctly inject the syringe in to the right vein. This is very dangerous if the vein that is hit is healthy. The sclerosing drug can cause blood flow to get cut off in the healthy vein.
Through the use of a Doppler ultrasound (used for small vessels), there is clear visualization of the affected vessel and area. The syringe containing the foam scleroscant can be easily injected into the correct vein, improving patient outcomes by preventing complications (which is common on non-ultrasound-guided procedures).
Sonographers can teach their patients to expect the following after an ultrasound-guided sclerotherpy session:
The role of ultrasound is quite important for this kind of procedure because veins, while they appear clearly on the skin, can actually lie beneath the dermis. This makes it very difficult to correctly inject the syringe in to the right vein. This is very dangerous if the vein that is hit is healthy. The sclerosing drug can cause blood flow to get cut off in the healthy vein.
Through the use of a Doppler ultrasound (used for small vessels), there is clear visualization of the affected vessel and area. The syringe containing the foam scleroscant can be easily injected into the correct vein, improving patient outcomes by preventing complications (which is common on non-ultrasound-guided procedures).
Sonographers can teach their patients to expect the following after an ultrasound-guided sclerotherpy session:
- Minimal (mild) pain, manageable with pain medication
- Discoloration of the area
- Inflammation due to sclerosant
- Migraine within a few minutes after the procedure
- Recurring of the varicose veins (in the same or other areas)