Clinical outcome of short term compression following sclerotherapy of teleangiectatic varicose veins.

Abstract Background Sclerotherapy is considered to be the method of choice for the treatment of teleangiectatic varicose veins (C1 veins). Whilst the use of compression stockings post sclerotherapy is recommended, little is known about the impact of compression on the outcome of sclerotherapy. Aim To assess the influence of compression on the outcome of injection sclerotherapy of C1 varicose veins. Methods 100 legs of 50 consecutive patients with chronic venous insufficiency (C1) were included. After randomization per patient both legs were treated with sclerotherapy in a predefined area of the thigh (measuring 100cm2) followed by eccentric compression for 24 hours. Group A was additionally equipped with compression stockings with 18-20mm Hg above the ankle and continued wearing these for one week, whereas Group B received no further compression. Photodocumentation was performed before, one, and four weeks after sclerotherapy and the clinical outcome assessed at these post procedure follow up dates. The photographs were reviewed by an internal unblinded and an independent blinded external rater. Results There was no discernable difference between the groups in terms of clinical outcome or side effects after 4 weeks. Whilst interrater reliability was high, there was no correlation between the raters and patients in terms of outcome. In 55% of the treated legs, the patients deemed the result of the treatment to be good, in 27% of the treated legs as fair, and in 18% poor. Post procedure hyperpigmentation occurred in 13% of patients and was comparable in both groups. Compression therapy was found to be comfortable by the majority (58%) of patients. Conclusion One week of post-interventional compression therapy had no clinical benefit compared to no compression.