Paraplegia after sclerotherapy of varicose leg veins

Abstract

SummaryWe would like to present the case of paraplegia due to venous spinal ischaemia, which occurred after sclerotherapy of leg veins and subsequent to previous venous surgery. After exclusion of other pathogenetic causes such as surgery, tumescent local anaesthesia or neurological, infections, cardiological and haemosteaseological causes, this complication must be regarded as a consequence of sclerotherapy. Sources in literature describe shunts (shortened connections) between the leg veins and the venous spinal system, thus enabling minutest particles from sclerotherapy to enter the veins and possibly have a cytotoxic or microembolic effect with spinal ischaemia.