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| ===Non-surgical treatment===
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| ====Sclerotherapy====
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| A commonly performed non-surgical treatment for varicose and "spider" leg veins is [[sclerotherapy]]. It has been used in the treatment of varicose veins for over 150 years.<ref>Goldman M, Sclerotherapy Treatment of varicose and telangiectatic leg vein, Hardcover Text, 2nd Ed, 1995</ref> Sclerotherapy is often used for telangiectasias (spider veins) and varicose veins that persist or recur after vein stripping.<ref>"Veins & Lymphatics," L. K. Pak et al, ''in'' Lange's Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment, 11th ed., McGraw-Hill, </ref><ref>Tisi PV, Beverley C, Rees A. Injection sclerotherapy for varicose veins. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001732.</ref>
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| Sclerotherapy can also be performed using microfoam sclerosants under ultrasound guidance to treat larger varicose veins, including the greater and short saphenous veins.<ref>Paul Thibault, Sclerotherapy and Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy, The Vein Book / editor, John J. Bergan, 2007.</ref><ref>Padbury A, Benveniste G L, Foam echosclerotherapy of the small saphenous vein, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Phlebology Vol 8, Number 1 (December 2004)</ref> A study by Kanter and Thibault in 1996 reported a 76% success rate at 24 months in treating saphenofemoral junction and great saphenous vein incompetence with STS 3% solution.<ref>Kanter A, Thibault P. Saphenofemoral junction incompetence treated by ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy, Dermatol Surg. 1996. 22: 648-652.</ref> A Cochrane Collaboration review<ref>http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD001732/abstract.html</ref> concluded sclerotherapy was better than surgery in the short term (1 year) for its treatment success, complication rate and cost, but surgery was better after 5 years, although the research is weak.<ref>Rigby KA, Palfreyman SJ, Beverley C, Michaels JA. Surgery versus sclerotherapy for the treatment of varicose veins. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004980. [http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004980/abstract.html]</ref>
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| A Health Technology Assessment found that sclerotherapy provided less benefit than surgery, but is likely to provide a small benefit in varicose veins without reflux.<ref>Michaels JA, Campbell WB, Brazier JE, MacIntyre JB, Palfreyman SJ, Ratcliffe J, et al. Randomized clinical trial, observational study and assessment of cost-effectiveness of the treatment of varicose veins (REACTIV trial). Health Technol Assess 2006;10(13). [http://www.hta.ac.uk/fullmono/mon1013.pdf] This Health Technology Assessment monograph includes reviews of the epidemiology, assessment, and treatment of varicose veins, as well as a study on clinical and cost effectiveness of surgery and sclerotherapy</ref> Complications of sclerotherapy are rare but can include blood clots and ulceration. [[Anaphylaxis|Anaphylactic]] reactions are "extraordinarily rare but can be life-threatening," and doctors should have resuscitation equipment ready.<ref>William R. Finkelmeier, Sclerotherapy, Ch. 12, ACS Surgery: Principles & Practice, 2004, WebMD (hardcover book)</ref> There has been one reported case of stroke after ultrasound guided sclerotherapy when an unusually large dose of sclerosant foam was injected.
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| ====Endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation====
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| The Australian Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) in 2008 has determined that endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins "appears to be more effective in the short term, and at least as effective overall, as the comparative procedure of junction ligation and vein stripping for the treatment of varicose veins."<ref>Medical Services Advisory Committee, Endovenous laser therapy (ELT) for varicose veins. MSAC application 1113, Dept of Health and Ageing, Commonwealth of Australia, 2008. http://www.msac.gov.au/internet/msac/publishing.nsf/Content/2E0BACBB8704139ACA25745E001C2F21/$File/1113report.pdf</ref> It also found in its assessment of available literature, that "occurrence rates of more severe complications such as DVT, nerve injury and paraesthesia, post-operative infections and haematomas, appears to be greater after ligation and stripping than after EVLT". Complications for endovenous laser treatment include minor skin burns (0.4%)<ref name="Elmore"> Elmore FA and Lackey D, Effectiveness of laser treatment in eliminating superficial venous reflux, Phlebology 2008 :23 :21-31</ref> and temporary paraesthesia (2.1%).<ref name="Elmore"/> The longest study of endovenous laser ablation is 39 months.
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| <div align="left">
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| <gallery heights="175" widths="175">
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| Image:000 1486.jpg|Varicose veins after [[EVLT]]
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| </gallery>
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| </div>
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| Two prospective randomized trials found speedier recovery and fewer complications after radiofrequency obliteration (AKA radiofrequency ablation) compared to open surgery.<ref>Rautio, T, et al., Endovenous oblitration versus conventional stripping operation in the treatment of primary varicose veins, J Vasc Surg 2002:35:958-65</ref><ref>Lurie F, et al., Prospective randomized study of endovenous radiofrequency oblitration (closure) versus ligation and vein stripping (EVOLVeS: two-year follow-up. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2005;29:67-73</ref> Myers<ref>Kenneth Myers, An opinion —surgery for small saphenous reflux is obsolete!" Australian and New Zealand Journal of Phlebology, Vol 8, Number 1 (December 2004)</ref> wrote that open surgery for [[small saphenous vein]] reflux is obsolete. Myers said these veins should be treated with endovenous techniques, citing high recurrence rates after surgical management, and risk of nerve damage up to 15%. In comparison, radiofrequency ablation has been shown to control 80% of cases of small saphenous vein reflux at 4 years, said Myers. Complications for radiofrequency ablation include burns, paraesthesia, clinical phlebitis, and slightly higher rates of deep vein thrombosis (0.57%) and pulmonary embolism (0.17%).One 3-year study compared radiofrequency, with a recurrence rate of 33%, to open surgery, which had a recurrence rate of 23%.
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| Endovenous laser and radiofrequency ablation require specialized training for doctors and expensive equipment. Endovenous laser treatment is performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require the use of an operating theatre, nor does the patient need a general anaesthetic. Doctors must use ultrasound during the procedure to see what they are doing. Some practitioners also perform phlebectomy or ultrasound guided sclerotherapy at the time of endovenous treatment. Follow-up treatment to smaller branch varicose veins is often needed in the weeks after the initial procedure.
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| ===Other treatments are:=== | | ===Other treatments are:=== |
