Impact of Cooling on Lowering the Pain Threshold in Patients Undergoing Sclerotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Liquid sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice for telangiectasias. However, pain caused by the procedure is a barrier to treatment adherence by patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of skin cooling for the management of pain in patients undergoing liquid sclerotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 230 lower limbs from 115 patients with telangiectasias classified as C1 according to the Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological classification were included. Patients underwent liquid sclerotherapy with and without skin cooling during the procedure. Pain was assessed using a visual analog scale, applied immediately after the procedure, according to each lower limb area treated. RESULTS: Visual analog scale pain scores were significantly lower for sclerotherapy with the use of cooling for pain management during the procedure than for sclerotherapy without cooling both in the thigh and leg (p < .0001). CONCLUSION: The use of a cooling system is effective in reducing pain in patients undergoing liquid sclerotherapy of telangiectasias, providing more comfort to patients.

Impact of Great Saphenous Vein Foam Sclerotherapy on Quality of Life and Photoplethysmography Findings in Chronic Venous Insufficiency: One-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) for treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) has been attracting significant interest over the past 20 years. It is a minimally invasive technique that comprises a safe treatment option and has yielded good results, especially in cases of advanced disease, with high rates of wound healing. OBJECTIVE: To examine clinical, ultrasound, and photoplethysmography outcomes after a 1-year follow-up of UGFS for CVI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine legs classified as C4, C5, or C6 of the CEAP classification were included. Patients answered the VEINES questionnaire on quality of life and symptoms. and their venous filling time (VFT) was measured using photoplethysmography before and 45, 180, and 360 days after treatment of CVI with UGFS. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant improvements in VEINES quality-of-life and symptom scores and in VFT measured by photoplethysmography and a reduction in great saphenous vein diameter (p < .0001) at 45, 180, and 360 days after treatment with UGFS. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy demonstrated efficacy and resulted in high satisfaction levels, confirmed by improvement in questionnaire scores, venous refilling time, and ultrasound findings.