Elastic compression after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy in overweight patients does not improve primary venous hemodynamics outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

Lower extremity varicose veins have a high prevalence and can be associated with significant morbidity in their more advanced presentations; overweight patients tend to present with more severe clinical symptoms and conventional surgical treatment remains challenging. Although the advent of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) increased the treatment options for these patients, the need for elastic compression after UGFS remains controversial.

METHODS

Overweight patients with lower extremity varicose veins secondary to great saphenous vein reflux were treated with UGFS and then randomized to use or no use of a 3-week treatment of elastic compression stockings. Follow-up was performed by clinical evaluation and duplex ultrasound examination. The primary outcome measure was the absence of venous reflux in the great saphenous vein.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-five lower limbs were treated; 72 limbs were randomized to elastic compression and 63 limbs to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of procedures (P = .64) or the mean foam volume per procedure (P = .27) between groups. There was no difference in the reflux rate at either 3 weeks (26% vs 35%; P = .16) or 3 months (25% vs 21%; P = .85). Major complications were venous deep thrombosis (n = 2), neurologic event (n = 1), and ischemic ulceration (n = 1); the overall rate was 3% in both groups-2 of 62 in control patients and 2 of 69 in compression patients (P = .45). Venous diameter reduction was noted in both groups during treatment (P < .05) but with greater decrease in greater saphenous vein diameter in patients treated with compression.

CONCLUSIONS

Elastic compression stockings for 3 consecutive weeks after UGFS in overweight patients did not decrease great saphenous vein reflux, need for repeat procedures, or the volume of foam injected. However, UGFS was associated with a greater and uniform reduction in saphenous vein diameter at all times after the procedure.