What drug is used for sclerotherapy? (2023)

What drug is used for sclerotherapy?

Asclera^® (polidocanol) Injection is a prescription medicine that is used in a procedure called sclerotherapy and administered by a healthcare provider to treat two types of veins in your legs.

In most cases of sclerotherapy, the salt solution is injected through a very fine needle directly into the vein. At this point, you may experience mild discomfort and cramping for one to two minutes, especially when larger veins are injected. The procedure itself takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes.

Hypertonic saline use to be the the most widely used solution for spider veins. It is simply a saline (salt) concentrate solution which irritates the tiny veins and subsequently closes them. Hypertonic saline is used widely and is very effective.

Sclerotherapy effectively treats varicose and spider veins. It's often considered the treatment of choice for small varicose veins. Sclerotherapy involves injecting a solution directly into the vein. The sclerotherapy solution causes the vein to scar, forcing blood to reroute through healthier veins.

You should never treat yourself with sclerotherapy. The solution used for sclerotherapy is not . 9ns but hypertonic saline which is caustic and carries many potential risks.

There have been several studies reporting the results of sclerotherapy in small series of patients. The majority of these show clinical success rates of 80–90% for the resolution of injected vessels.

Answer: Elevation of legs after sclerotherapy

Elevation of the legs after sclerotherapy does not affect or improve the results of the treatment. It elevation of the legs improves leg discomfort or heaviness, I would recommend seeing an vein specialist to have a complete evaluation of your venous system in your legs.

The recommended treatment is a subcutaneous injection of epinephrine 0.2 to 0.5 mL (1:1000).

What size needle is used for sclerotherapy?

Injection is performed with a standard 23-gauge sclerotherapy needle.

Sclerotherapy is the best option available to remove unwanted spider veins. In general terms and under optimal conditions, patients can achieve desirable results within 4 treatment sessions.

In many cases, you can expect to return to work or your usual activities without many restrictions. It may be best for you to avoid overexertion and strenuous exercises for 3-5 days after treatment to allow your legs time to heal. Mild discomfort and bruising should resolve within two to six weeks.

After a sclerotherapy treatment, patients should notice their smaller spider veins beginning to fade or disappear in about 3 – 4 weeks. Larger veins, including varicose veins, may take up to 4 – 6 months to fade after sclerotherapy.

A few cases of stroke following foam sclerotherapy have been reported, and three mechanisms have been proposed to account for this association: thrombotic paradoxical embolism, air embolism and vasospasm.

From the pictures posted, there appears to be a combination of small spider veins, some matting (this is enlargement of smaller tiny red veins after sclerotherapy or other procedures as a result of inflammation and dilatation of the tiny vessels) and a bit of hyperpigmentation or brownish discoloration.

Common Sclerotherapy Side Effects

Blood clots – A blood clot may develop at the injection site. Sometimes the clot will resolve on its own, but other times the doctor will need to remove it. In rare cases, a blood clot may travel to a vein deeper in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, DVT).

This injection will cause the vein to collapse and eventually disappear. Overexertion and heavy physical activities are best avoided for a few days up to a week following the treatment. Swelling and bruising due to sclerotherapy can be minimized through the use of stockings.

After a sclerotherapy treatment, patients should notice their smaller spider veins beginning to fade or disappear in about 3 – 4 weeks. Larger veins, including varicose veins, may take up to 4 – 6 months to fade after sclerotherapy.

In many cases, you can expect to return to work or your usual activities without many restrictions. It may be best for you to avoid overexertion and strenuous exercises for 3-5 days after treatment to allow your legs time to heal. Mild discomfort and bruising should resolve within two to six weeks.

Can sclerotherapy cause nerve damage?

Sclerotherapy using liquid or foam sclerosants is associated with both sensory and motor nerve damage that is usually transient in nature. The incidence is very rare (0.02%) with paresthesia and dysesthesia as the main presenting complaints.

For the first few days after your treatment, make sure that you wear your stockings at night. After this initial period, you can sleep without them. Just put them on in the morning when you start your day.

Answer: Elevation of legs after sclerotherapy

Elevation of the legs after sclerotherapy does not affect or improve the results of the treatment. It elevation of the legs improves leg discomfort or heaviness, I would recommend seeing an vein specialist to have a complete evaluation of your venous system in your legs.