Ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy can be safely applied for the treatment of great saphenous varicose veins in elderly patients

Abstract

Objectives Although many published series have shown the results of ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy, little is known about the outcomes and complications in older patients. Methods A total of 152 patients older than 65 years (group 1: 61.8% male, mean age 69.0 ± 4.5 years) and 244 patients younger than 65 years (group 2: 48.8% male, mean age 45.7 ± 11.2 years) were included in the study. Ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy was performed in patients with great saphenous vein valvular incompetence and saphenofemoral junction incompetence. Occlusion status was recorded by ultrasonography. Venous clinical severity score and visual analog score were calculated pre- and post-intervention. Results Complete occlusion rate of the great saphenous vein at 12 months post-procedure for the groups 1 and 2 was 86.4% and 86.3%, respectively. Venous clinical severity score and visual analog score were significantly different before ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy and four weeks after ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy ( p < 0.001) in both the groups. There were no observed major complications in both the groups. Conclusions With low complication rate and acceptable total occlusion rate, ultrasound-guided catheter-directed foam sclerotherapy can be considered a reliable treatment for older patients.