Prospective randomized efficacy of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy compared with ultrasound-guided liquid sclerotherapy in the treatment of symptomatic venous malformations

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery 2008-03, Vol.47 (3), p.578-584
• Main Authors: Yamaki, Takashi, MD, Nozaki, Motohiro, MD, Sakurai, Hiyoyuki, MD, Takeuchi, Masaki, MD, Soejima, Kazutaka, MD, Kono, Taro, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiovascular system; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Oleic Acids - therapeutic use; Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; Sclerosing Solutions - therapeutic use; Sclerotherapy - adverse effects; Sclerotherapy - methods; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Ultrasonography, Interventional; Vascular Malformations - diagnostic imaging; Vascular Malformations - therapy; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels; Veins - abnormalities; Veins - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0741-5214; 1097-6809
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2007.11.026

Objective To compare the clinical outcome between ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) and ultrasound-guided liquid form sclerotherapy (UGLS) in patients with venous malformations (VM). Methods Eighty-nine patients with symptomatic VM were treated with ultrasound-guided sclerotherapy. There were 22 males and 67 females with mean age of 14.5 years. The sclerosing agents used were 1% polidocanol (POL) or 10% ethanolamine oleate (EO). POL was injected predominantly into smaller, superficial lesions, whereas EO was used for large, deeper lesions. Foam sclerosing solution was provided using Tessari’s method. Patients were randomized to receive either UGFS or UGLS. Post-sclerotherapy surveillance was done at 6 months after last session using duplex ultrasound. Findings obtained by duplex scanning were divided into four groups: (1) disappeared group: the venous space was occluded and was totally shrunk; (2) partially recanalized group: the venous space was partially recanalized and was partially shrunk; (3) totally recanalized group: the venous space was totally recanalized and returned at the same size; and (4) worsened group: the venous space was totally recanalized and became worse. Results Forty-nine patients were treated with UGFS and the remaining 40 were treated with UGLS. There were no significant differences in age and men:women ratio. There was no significant difference in the anatomic distribution of VMs between the two groups. The amount of POL was significantly smaller in patients who were treated with UGFS ( P = .022). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in the use of EO in patients treated with UGFS ( P = .005). The proportion of VM with total disappearance and partial recanalization was significantly higher in patients treated with UGFS ( P = .002). No major complications related to sclerotherapy were encountered in both groups. Conclusions These findings suggest that UGFS could have greater promise compared with UGLS in the treatment of VMs.