Healing and Recurrence Rates Following Ultrasound-guided Foam Sclerotherapy of Superficial Venous Reflux in Patients with Chronic Venous Ulceration

Introduction Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy is a minimally invasive treatment option used for ablation of axial and perforator reflux for chronic venous ulceration. Active ulceration presents a significant health burden in both the primary and secondary care setting. The objective of this study is to determine ulcer healing rates at 24 weeks and 12 months, and ulcer recurrence rates at one year for chronic venous ulcers after ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Methods Between 2007 and 2012, 54 patients underwent ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological C6 ulcers. All patients were followed up clinically, and venous duplex was performed on all legs before and after treatment. A prospectively maintained database was analysed to determine venous truncal occlusion rates, 24-week and 12-month healing and recurrence rates (using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis). Results Fifty-seven ulcerated legs, 39 primary and 18 with recurrent superficial venous reflux were analysed. Median time of active ulceration at presentation was 15.2 months (range 5 months to 17 years). At a median follow-up of 2.7 months, 90% (51 legs) achieved full truncal occlusion after one session, 4% (2) short segment occlusion and 5% (3) failed to occlude and one patient died and was lost to follow-up; 13/57 (23%) required a second session of treatment for completion of treatment, recanalisations and to treat perforator disease, 88% (50/57) ulcers healed at a median of 5.3 months (interquartile range 2.9–8.4 months) following their first ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy treatment. The 24-week and 12-month estimated healing rates were 53% and 72%, respectively. The estimated 12-month recurrence rate was 9.2%. There were no reported incidences of deep venous thrombosis or neurological symptoms. Conclusion This study affirms the role of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy as a safe and effective option for abolition of superficial reflux.

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Effect of foam sclerotherapy on healing and long-term recurrence in chronic venous leg ulcers

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1258/phleb.2011.011118 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 140-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

S R Kulkarni ◽

F J A Slim ◽

L G Emerson ◽

C Davies ◽

R A Bulbulia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ulcer Healing ◽

Healing Rate ◽

Leg Ulcers ◽

Venous Reflux ◽

Foam Sclerotherapy ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Venous Ulceration ◽

Venous Leg Ulcers ◽

Venous Surgery

Introduction The ESCHAR trial showed that superficial venous surgery and compression in chronic venous ulceration achieved a 24-week healing rate of 65% and 12-month recurrence rate of 12%. Foam sclerotherapy treatment is an alternative to surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of foam sclerotherapy on ulcer healing and recurrence in chronic venous leg ulcers. Methods Chronic venous leg ulcers (CEAP [clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements] 5 and CEAP 6) with superficial venous reflux were treated between March 2006 and June 2011 with ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy and compression. Venous duplex was performed on all legs before and after treatment. Twenty-four-week ulcer healing and one- and four-year ulcer recurrence rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results Two hundred legs (186 patients) with chronic venous ulcers (CEAP 5: n = 163 and CEAP 6: n = 37) were treated with foam sclerotherapy. Complete occlusion was achieved in 185/200 (92.5%) limbs, short segment occlusion in 14/200 (7%) limbs and one leg segment failed to occlude. One patient suffered an asymptomatic non-occlusive deep vein thrombosis (DVT) diagnosed on duplex scan at one week and one presented with an occlusive DVT three weeks following a normal scan at one week. One patient developed an asymptomatic occlusive DVT at two weeks following a non-occlusive DVT diagnosed on initial one-week scan. Eighteen patients were lost to follow-up (3 moved away and 15 died of unrelated causes). The 24-week healing rate was 71.1% and one- and four-year recurrence rates were 4.7% and 28.1%, respectively. Conclusion Foam sclerotherapy is effective in abolition of superficial venous reflux and may contribute to similar ulcer healing and long-term recurrence rates to superficial venous surgery. Foam sclerotherapy is an attractive alternative to surgery in this group of patients.

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Recanalisation and ulcer recurrence rates following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy

Phlebology The Journal of Venous Disease ◽

10.1177/0268355515598450 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (7) ◽

pp. 506-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Julia K Howard ◽

Fiona JA Slim ◽

Margaret C Wakely ◽

Lorraine G Emerson ◽

Colin E Davies ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Survival Analysis ◽

Ulcer Recurrence ◽

Ultrasound Guided ◽

Foam Sclerotherapy ◽

Recurrence Rates ◽

Short Segment ◽

Venous Ulceration ◽

Kaplan Meier ◽

One Year

Objectives The aim was to assess vein recanalisation and ulcer recurrence in patients with chronic venous ulceration following ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. Method Open (CEAP 6) or recently healed (CEAP 5) chronic venous leg ulcers were treated with foam sclerotherapy between July 2010 and August 2012. Venous duplex scans were performed two weeks and one and two years post treatment, recording recanalisation and reflux. One- and two-year ulcer recurrence rates were calculated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results A total of 100 legs were treated in 92 patients; 86 were CEAP 5 and 14 were CEAP 6. At two weeks complete or short segment occlusion was demonstrated in 99/100 legs. Complete follow-up was 93% at one year and 88% at two years. Complete and segmental recanalisation with new reflux was recorded in 11/93 (12%) legs and 25/93 (27%) legs, respectively (overall 36/93; 39%) at one year; and 6/88 (7%) legs and 15/88 (17%) legs, respectively (overall 21/88; 24%) at two years. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis shows 64% ulcers healed at 24 weeks and 86% at one year. Ulcer recurrence rate at one and two years was 2.3% and 5.1%. Conclusions Over one-third of superficial veins treated with foam sclerotherapy recanalised at one year and just under a quarter of superficial veins recanalised at two years. Despite this, ulcer recurrence rates were low, and recanalisation failed to predict recurrence.

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