THE USEFULNESS OF CATHERTER SCLEROTHERAPY USING HYPERTONIC SALINE FOR VARICES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES

Abstract

From December 1993 to February 1995, 71 extremities of 44 cases of varices of the lower extremities were treated by catheter sclerotherapy combined with selective stripping, high ligation, and ligation of incompetent perforating branch. In the catheter sclerotherapy, a catheter was inserted into the affected vein and a sclerotic agent, either 1%-polydocanol (20 extremities) or hypertonic saline (51), was infused through the catheter. All treated varices disappeared and no recurrence occurred. Complications included intravascular thrombus, pigmentation, bradycardia, and hypotension in frequencies of 12.7%, 5.6%, 11.4%, and 9.1%, respectively. When 14.6% hypertonic saline was infused under local anesthesia, a pain at the infusion was observed in 35.6% of the subjects. Frequencies of intravascular thrombus, pigmentation, bradycardia, and hypotension were 25.0%, 15.0%, 35.7%, and 28.4% for 1% polydocanol, versus 7.8%, 2.0%, 0%, and 0% for 14.6%, hypertonic saline, respectively. In addition the pain at infusion of the hypertonic saline was able to be controlled by an addition of 10% lidocaine. It is concluded that the catheter sclerotherapy using 14.6% hypertonic saline is useful with less complications.