RESUMO
Objective To investigate the stability of 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerosant prepared with different liquid-to-air ratio in order to find out the optimal liquid-to-air ratio. Methods According to Tessari technique, two 10 ml disposable plastic syringes and one three-way plastic stopcock were used to mix 1%lauromacrogol with room air, and liquid-to-air ratios from 1∶1 to 1∶9 were separately employed to make the preparation of the foam sclerosant. Each kind of liquid-to-air ratio was used to separately make bubbles for 5 times, the foam half-life time (FHT), the foam drainage time (FDT) and the foam coalescence time (FCT) were recorded, and their mean values were calculated. The optimal liquid-to-air ratio was defined as the intermediate values of all the above measured indexes. Results When the liquid-to-air ratio was 1 ∶ 1, 1 ∶2, 1 ∶ 3, 1 ∶ 4, 1 ∶ 5, 1 ∶ 6, 1 ∶ 7, 1 ∶ 8 and 1 ∶ 9, the FHT of 1% lauromacrogol foam sclerosant was 184.8, 169.3, 135.9, 110.8, 111.5, 92.6, 76.3, 74.7 and 49.9 seconds respectively; the FDT was 10.6, 17.8, 14.6, 13.7, 13.0, 12.3, 10.7, 11.5 and 12.6 seconds respectively; while the FCT was 108.4, 79.8, 41.8, 20.3, 10.4, 0, 0, 0 and 0 seconds respectively. Conclusion Based on Tessari technique, the indoor air, two 10 ml disposable plastic syringes and one three-way plastic stopcock are used to prepare 1%lauromacrogol foam sclerosant, and the optimal liquid-to-air ratio is 1 ∶ 2.
RESUMO
Objective To describe the techniques of fluoroscopy-guided foam sclerotherapy for lower extremity varicosities, and evaluate the feasibility, safety and curative effects of it. Methods From October 2008 to December 2009, a total of 21 legs in 16 patients with lower extremity varicosities received radiological-guided foam sclerotherapy. They were enrolled in this study. Sodium morrhuate was foamed with by the filling-defects technique under fluoroscopy guidance. Postoperative compression was maintained for 2 weeks. Clinical effect was assessed as full success, partial success and no success. Complications were classified as minor or serious. Results The technical procedure was successful in all foam sclerotherapies for 21 legs. And, a single sclerotherapy session was adequate for all legs. The median follow-up period was 6. 0 months after treatment, ranged from 3.0 to 17.0 months. In this period, Clinical effect was assessed as full success for 17 legs (81.0%) and partial success for 4 legs ( 19.0% ). All patients presented selflimiting minor complications, including cordlike subcutaneous indurations along the treated veins (21 cases), skin hyperpigmentation in 11 legs (8 cases), local pain in 7 legs (6 cases) and superficial thrombophlebitits in one leg ( 1 case). No serious complications or systemic events occurred. Conclusion Fluoroscopy-guided foam sclerotherapy was a feasible, safe and effective treatment for lower extremity varicosities.