ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Cardioangiologica 2002 February;50(1):29-38

Copyright © 2002 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Telangiectasias associated with reticular veins. Sclerotherapy or combined sclerotherapeutic and surgical approach?

Albanese V., Cavallaro G.

Background. We compare the results obtained with sclerotherapy or combined surgical and sclerotherapic approach in two groups of patients, affected by reticular veins-related telangiectasias without incompetence of the saphenous systems or perforating veins.
Methods. 44 female patients were evaluated at our Institution. The first group (21 patients) was treated with sclerotherapy (polidocanol at a concentration of 1% for the reticular veins and 0.25% for the telangiectasias); the second group (23 patients) was treated with a combined approach (ambulatory phlebectomy according to Müller and sclerosis using polidocanol at a concentration of 0.25%). Six and twelve months after surgery or sclerotherapy, we evaluated the appearance of hyperpigmentation or telangiectatic matting, and the recurrence of the treated vessels.
Results. In the first group, the hyperpigmentations and the appearance of telangiectatic matting showed, after 6 months, an incidence rate of 14.3%; after 12 months, a recurrence of the treated vessels was observed in 4 patients (19%). In the second group, the hyperpigmentations and the appearance of telangiectatic matting showed, after 6 months, an incidence rate of 4.3%; at 12 month follow-up no recurrence of treated vessels was observed.
Conclusions. The combined approach might be considered, in selected patients, a valid alternative to sclerotherapy in the treatment of reticular veins-related telangiectasias, particularly in preventing side effects such as hyperpigmentations and telangiectatic matting.