Defining Sclerotherapy is quite simple. It is a procedural treatment dealing with the blood vessels and blood vessel malformations (these malformations are sometimes referred to as vascular malformations). Sclerotherapy can also deal with other malformations of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic includes all the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells which fight infection and disease.
This system includes: bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic vessels branch, similar to the blood vessels of the circulatory system, into all the tissues of the body. During the sclerotherapy treatment medicine is injected directly into the vessels making them shrink. Children and young adults who have vascular or lymphatic malformations undergo the procedure. Adults access sclerotherapy to treat both varicose veins and hemorrhoids.
Varicose veins are most typically discovered in the legs of patients. The varicose vein appears as an abnormal swelling. And they are most often found in superficial veins.
Hemorrhoids are a mass of dilated veins in the swollen tissue located at the margin of the anus. Hemorrhoids can also sometimes be found in areas around the rectum.
Learning More About Sclerotherapy:
As already mentioned, sclerotherapy is an appropriate treatment for both varicose veins and venous malformations. Additional forms of treatment can be accessed as an alternative to sclerotherapy. Some alternative (and effective) treatments include: radiofrequency, laser ablation, and surgery. Physicians usually take advantage of ultrasound guidance when administering sclerotherapy. This enables them to deliver medicinal injections while simultaneously monitoring a visualization of the underlying veins.
Recovering from Sclerotherapy processes:
Complications as a result of sclerotherapy are rare. These rare complications could result in: venous thromboembolism, visual disturbances, allergic reaction, thrombophlebitis, skin necrosis, and hyperpigmentation. When sclerotherapy is conducted appropriately and the injection is administered properly into the vein there is no damage to the skin in the surrounding area.
If the sclerotherapy injection isn’t administered properly (for instance if it is injected outside of the vein), both scarring and tissue necrosis can often result.
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