Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]
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Comparative Study
Saphenofemoral incompetence treated by ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy.
Published long-term recurrence rates are higher after sclerotherapy than after surgery for the treatment of varicose veins involving greater saphenous tributaries associated with saphenofemoral incompetence (SFI). Duplex ultrasound has recently become the gold standard for the diagnosis of venous disorders, and over the past 5 years, has been utilized during sclerotherapy to guide injections more precisely. ⋯ Duplex ultrasound enhances the precision and therefore, both the efficacy and safety of saphenous vein sclerotherapy when performed by experienced practitioners. While awaiting long-term follow-up to document the progressive recurrence rate over time, our results at 2 years are superior to those after conventional sclerotherapy, and compare favorably with those after surgical interruption.